CARSON, Calif. – 22 years ago, 11 men brought soccer back to the Los Angeles sporting landscape.
On April 13, 1996, the Los Angeles Galaxy played their first match, defeating the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, 2-1 before a roaring crowd of 69,225 at the Rose Bowl. Southern California native Cobi Jones scored the club’s first competitive goal while defender Arash Noamouz added a second soon later.
In honor of #GalaxyThrowback Night on Saturday, we take a look at where the members of the inaugural starting XI are now.
(From to left to right:FIRST ROW: Dan Calichmann, Robin Fraser, Manny Motajo, Jorge Campos, Harut Karapetyan, Eduardo Hurtado SECOND ROW: Mauricio Cienfuegos, Cobi Jones, Chris Armas, Arash Noamouz, Mark Semoili)
Campos left the Galaxy in 1997 and played another 10 years professionally. Considered one of the greatest goalkeepers of his era, he went on to collect 130 caps for Mexico and appear in two World Cups.
He is presently a television analyst with TV Azteca.
DEF: Dan Calichman (USA)
The Galaxy’s original captain, Calichman played three years with the Galaxy. He made more than 100 appearances in his five-year MLS career.
He is an assistant coach at Toronto FC
DEF: Robin Fraser (USA)
Fraser won the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Defender of the Year, and Supporters’ Shield during his six-year tenure with the Galaxy. After leaving the club, he earned another Defender of the Year award and Supporters’ Shield during the final four years of his professional career.
He is an assistant coach at Toronto FC
DEF: Arash Noamouz (IRN)
The Iranian international made 16 appearances for the Galaxy in their inaugural season, scoring two goals—including the game-winner in the team’s first-ever game at the Rose Bowl. Noamouz’s career ended in 1997 after suffering a right knee injury.
He is a restaurateur in Houston, TX.
DEF: Mark Semioli (USA)
Semioli spent one-and-a-half seasons with the Galaxy before spending the remaining four-and-a-half years of his career with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. He made 121 appearances during his career.
He is a High School Educator in New Jersey.
MID: Chris Armas (USA)
Armas left the Galaxy after the 1997 season and was traded to the Chicago Fire. He played the remainder of his career with Chicago, making more than 200 appearances and leading the Fire to an MLS Cup in 1999. He retired in 2008.
He is an assistant coach with the New York Red Bulls
MID: Mauricio Cienfuegos (SLV)
One of the greatest players in MLS history, Cienfuegos made more than 200 appearances for the Galaxy in eight seasons, scoring 35 goals and tallying 80 assists. A seven-time MLS All-Star and three-time Best XI selection, Cienfuegos helped the Galaxy win the 2002 MLS Cup, 2001 U.S. Open Cup, and 2000 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup.
He is a coach with the LA Galaxy Academy.
MID: Cobi Jones (USA)
The LA Galaxy’s all-time appearance leader, Jones spent the entirety of his 11-year MLS career with Los Angeles. The Southern California soccer legend made more than 300 appearances with the Galaxy, tallying more than 80 goals and 111 assists. Jones is the all-time leader in appearances for the U.S. National Team with 164 caps and played in three World Cups.
He works as a television analyst with Spectrum SportsNet and Fox Sports.
MID: Manny Motajo (NGA)
Manny Motajo played one season with the Galaxy, making 20 appearances. He was released at the end of the year and played lower division soccer until he joined the New England Revolution for the 1998 campaign.
Motajo lives in Maryland with his family.
FWD: Eduardo "El Tanque" Hurtado (ECU)
Eduardo Hurtado spent two seasons with the Galaxy, earning a league Best XI honor in 1996 after he scored 21 goals in the inaugural campaign. His professional career spanned eight countries and lasted 20 years.
He works in soccer in his native Ecuador.
Karapetyan played for two years with the Galaxy, making 73 appearances and scoring 18 goals. He played five seasons in Major League Soccer.
He is a General Manager of Honda of Hollywood.
