Now that the 2013 season is over, LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano will look back on the season for every player who was on the club’s roster at some point during the season.
VIEW SCHEDULE HERE
The LA Galaxy Insider Year in Review will begin with players who made the least number of appearances for the club in all official competitions over the course of the year, starting with Brian Perk and Bryan Gaul, who did not make any appearances for the first team this year, and concluding with midfielder Marcelo Sarvas who played in a team-best 42 games for LA this year. There will also be an evaluation of head coach and general manager Bruce Arena and his moves at the conclusion of the list.
We will have one or two evaluations per day and focus on what each player did well and what challenges they faced in 2013 as well as a select thought from the player on their performance and an overall assessment of their season from myself.
Mike Magee
AGE: 29
POSITION: Midfielder
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS FOR THE GALAXY: GP: 14 (10 in MLS and four in CONCACAF Champions League); GS: 13 (10 in MLS and three in CONCACAF Champions League); G: 6 (All in MLS play); A: 0
HIGHLIGHTS: Mike Magee roared out of the gates in 2013 and quickly became one of the league’s most dangerous scoring threats. In LA’s season opener against the Chicago Fire, Magee was magnificent as he tallied his first career hat trick in the Galaxy’s 4-0 romp. Soon after, Magee went on a brief two game scoring streak as he scored the game winning goal in LA’s 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on March 23 and then tallied again in their 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on March 22. Magee scored his final goal for the Galaxy on April 27 when he donned the captain’s armband and led a youth-laden squad – that was without Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane – to a 2-0 road victory over Real Salt Lake. Magee was dealt to the Fire on May 25 in exchange for the rights to Robbie Rogers.
CHALLENGES: Mike Magee’s fast start to the season is well-documented, but a hip strain caused him to be a nonfactor in one of LA’s most important games of the season. The injury affected Magee throughout his time with the Galaxy, but a flare up with his problem hip reduced Magee to a substitute’s role in the Galaxy’s CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal second leg against Monterrey. With LA down 2-1 on aggregate from the first leg, Magee entered in the 59th minute of the Galaxy’s match at Estadio Tecnológico in Monterrey, but was unable to help spark his team and the Galaxy bowed of the tournament with a 3-1 aggregate defeat. While Magee was able to return to the starting lineup a few days later against FC Dallas in league play, he would score just once in his final six appearances with LA. The struggles against Monterrey also left him without a goal in the four Champions League matches that he played for the club at the start of the year.
HIS THOUGHTS: “This entire club has given me everything that I could have ever wished for, including allowing me the opportunity to return to my home of Chicago. This was not an easy decision for me and my family, but it is what we feel is for the best and I am appreciative to both the Galaxy and the Fire to helping facilitate this request. Thank you once again to everyone and I look forward to the time that we get to cross paths once again.” – Magee in an open letter to fans that was posted on LAGalaxy.com following his trade to the Fire on May 25.
OVERVIEW: Mike Magee remained a contributor for the LA Galaxy until he was traded to the Chicago Fire in exchange for Robbie Rogers. Upon the return to his hometown, Magee immediately became Chicago’s primary scoring threat. In 22 league appearances for the Fire, Magee tallied 15 goals giving him a career-high of 20 on the year as the club narrowly missed out on a postseason berth. Following a stellar season that saw him named as a finalist for the MLS MVP award, expectations will be high for Magee to produce again next year for a Fire side that is eager to return to the postseason. No matter what happens in Chicago, Magee’s role in LA’s MLS Cup championships in 2011 and 2012 cemented his place in Galaxy lore.
POLL: How would you rate Mike Magee’s 2013 season with the Galaxy?
How would you rate Mike Magee's 2013 season with the LA Galaxy?
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
