HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. – Landon Donovan’s career ended less than a week ago with the American soccer icon hoisting another MLS Cup, but as he prepares for his next chapter, the LA Galaxy are already hot on the trail of finding his replacement.
Following the Galaxy’s “First to Five” rally which celebrated their MLS Cup championship at the Hermosa Beach Pier, head coach and general manager Bruce Arena told reporters that the club has already had conversations with the representatives of several players as they look to replace their departing Designated Player.
“We won't replace Landon,” Arena told a group of reporters. “But we're going to get another good player, no question about that. We’re far enough to have some options. We’ll see what happens in the next month or so.”
Arena did not shed any light on which players the club is looking at, but noted that each of them had “different qualities” which may lead to a different style of play than the possession-oriented style that helped the Galaxy captain their fifth MLS Cup championship last season.
And as Arena and the rest of the Galaxy brass search for a replacement, all the remaining members of the team can do is wait and see what happens.
“We’re going to have to figure it out. Obviously losing Landon is a big loss for us. He has giant shoes to fill,” said defender Omar Gonzalez after the rally. “It’s up for Bruce to get the team together and make us focused off the bat in 2015 and go from there.”
No matter what happens with any potential additions the departing Donovan has complete confidence that the Galaxy can reload and remain competitive for the MLS Cup in 2015, even without the U.S. Soccer legend around.
“The Galaxy are more than one player. They do things right here, there are a lot of organizations in this league that don’t do things right and this club and organization does things right,” said Donovan after the Galaxy’s MLS Cup victory. “Phil Anschutz’s is as passionate an owner as there is in the league… Dan Beckerman is as good as human being as there is and that filters down to Chris Klein and Bruce.
“When you have [this] spine in an organization then it is going to be successful regardless of who is playing here.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
