The LA Galaxy today acquired midfielder Mike Magee from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for the Galaxy’s natural Second Round pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. Magee, 24, is a six-year MLS veteran who originally joined the Red Bulls in 2003 as an 18-year-old. A Chicago native, he has played in 130 games during his MLS career, scoring 23 goals and adding 13 assists, including five goals and an assist in 26 games in 2008.
“Mike is a very good attacking player and can play in a number of positions,” Galaxy General Manager and Head Coach Bruce Arena said. “At 24 years old, Mike brings us some proven quality and experience. I believe he will be a great asset to our team.”
Originally drafted by the MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) in the first round (4th overall) of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft, Magee scored a career-best seven goals in his rookie season, establishing himself as one of the top young talents in MLS. In August 2006, he was joined in New York by Arena, who was hired to coach the Red Bulls. However, Magee was limited to just ten games in 15 months under the now-Galaxy head coach as a result of a knee injury. Fully recovered from his injury, Magee returned to play in 26 games for New York last season, his most since 2005, scoring five times, including three game-winning goals, to help lead the Red Bulls to the MLS Cup final for the first time in club history.
Capable of playing up front and in the midfield, Magee has also gained experience in the U.S. National Team system, playing for the U-17, U-20 and U-23 National Teams, representing the U.S. at the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship and the 2003 World Youth Championships (U-20). In January 2005, Magee was part of a 28-player National Team training camp that was held at The Home Depot Center under the direction of Arena, who was the U.S. National Team coach at that time, in advance of the first CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier of the year. However, he has yet to earn his first cap with the national team.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Galaxy Acquire Mike Magee
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Galaxy Acquire Additional Third Round Pick
The Galaxy have just acquired an additional third round pick (35th overall) in Thursday's MLS SuperDraft, trading the MLS right to Ty Harden to Colorado.
Harden was the Galaxy's 2007 Defender of the Year, appearing in and starting 24 games as a rookie before leaving the club to pursue philanthropic endeavors at the start of the 2008 preseason.
The Galaxy now have five picks in Thursday's SuperDraft, one in the first round (3rd overall), two in the third round (33rd and 35th overall) and two in the fourth round (48th and 49th overall).
In The Head of A SuperDraft Prospect: By Julian Valentin
It’s that time again. January. It’s the time when MLS clubs line up their draft boards, wheel and deal in trade negotiations, scout and make offers for foreign players, and make final preparations for the upcoming season. Preseason starts in a week and all returning players are enjoying their last bit of offseason while prepping for the upcoming preseason campaign. January is an exciting time for fans of the league, a serious time for all returning players as they get ready to defend their roster spot, a frantic time for coaches and GMs, and a horrible, stressful time for all college seniors or Generation adidas players.
Last year at this time was one of the most stressful times of my life, and it is for pretty much anybody hoping to be picked in the MLS SuperDraft. Even a supposed “Lock for the #1 Pick” has to be worried because, well, there is no such thing as a “Lock for the #1 Pick.” Everyone flies down to Ft. Lauderdale for the MLS Combine to showcase their talents to an orchestra of MLS coaches and GMs, as they try to make one last good impression and end up on a team. At the Combine, everyone worries about not making mistakes, rather than playing well and it sometimes shows in the performances and quality of the games. Regardless, the Combine is a good tool for coaches to make their final evaluations of players under duress.
Then, the Combine is over. There’s a day of travel in between. And players head to the MLS SuperDraft.
Not a single player has a concrete idea where his future lies – only speculation from agents and media. Will I get taken when the media experts project? Am I on any draft boards at all? What city will I move to? What will my financial situation be? Will I be close to my family and girlfriend? Will I get taken at all or will the dream die? These are just some of the questions that are running through the head of every college senior right now. These are the questions that ran through my head last year.
I know all too well what is going through the heads of the many players who will be in St. Louis this week. They hope their name will be called. And each pick adds more anxiety to those who have yet to be selected. By the time you’re sitting in the convention center, however, everything is decided. There’s nothing more that a player can do but sit and wait, hoping to hear his name called. Did I do enough? Every player hopes that someone took notice of his talents and things they might become a good player in MLS some day. Draft day sucks.
Until your name is called…
Once you’re actually drafted, that’s just the start of the really hard work. At the end of the day being drafted is only an opportunity. It’s a preseason tryout with the club who selects you. Many players don’t make the team and find something else to do. Will a player prove all the critics wrong and become a sleeper pick? When you get drafted doesn’t matter one bit, but more important is what you do with the opportunity.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
SuperDraft Preparation Nears an End
Bruce, Dave, Cobi and Tom Payne are down in Florida right now for the annual MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale as they make their final assessment on some of the top college players who will be available in Thursday's MLS SuperDraft in St. Louis. Those four will remain in sunny Florida until the conclusion of the Combine on Tuesday before flying directly to St. Louis, where the blog staff will already be established, on Wednesday morning in advance of the SuperDraft.
In case you forgot, the Galaxy have four picks in the four round SuperDraft, picking in the first round (3rd overall), the third round (33rd overall) and twice in the fourth round (48th and 49th overall, with the 49th pick coming from Toronto FC in exchange for Kevin Harmse last March). The Galaxy had two second round picks (18th and 20th overall) but those were traded to FC Dallas (for Carlos Ruiz) and New England (for Joe Franchino) in 2008.
We'll catch up with the coaches in advance of the Draft and then be your go-to source for all Galaxy-related information on Draft Day, while also throwing in a few extras. And don't forget, you can watch the first hour of the SuperDraft live on ESPN2, starting at 11 a.m. (PT) on Thursday.
Becks and LD Earn Starts
David Beckham started and played 89 minutes with A.C. Milan in a 2-2 draw against AS Roma on Sunday. Meanwhile, teammate Landon Donovan made his debut with Bayern Munich in a friendly against Al Jazeera Sports Club on Saturday. Donovan helped Bayern to a 3-2 victory including an assist on Bastian Schweinsteiger's goal in the 31st minute. Both Beckham and Donovan are scheduled to re-join the Galaxy on March 8, in time for the club's MLS season opener on March 22 vs. D.C. United.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Paul Bravo Leaves the Club; Named Technical Director of the Colorado Rapids
Read the full press release below...
“I want to thank Paul for his service and dedication to the Galaxy during his time with the club and wish him well in this next step of his career,” Galaxy General Manager and Head Coach Bruce Arena said.
Bravo, 40, originally joined the Galaxy in June 2006 as an assistant coach under Frank Yallop. He held that position until August 24, 2007 when he was named the club’s Director of Soccer. In that role, Bravo was responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of the club, including scouting and evaluating players both nationally and internationally. He traveled to every continent in the world in this role, identifying potential players and meeting with foreign clubs.
“This is a great opportunity for me and my family as I get a chance to continue to move in a positive direction in my career,” Bravo said. “I’ve enjoyed my time with the Galaxy, both as an assistant coach and as the Director of Soccer, and being a part of the change that the club has gone through over the past couple of years. I wish the club nothing but the best of luck and would like to thank Bruce Arena, Tom Payne and the rest of the Galaxy organization for the opportunities they gave me.”
Prior to joining the Galaxy, the San Jose, Calif. native served as an assistant coach under former Galaxy player Jorge Salcedo at UCLA from 2004-2005, helping the Bruins win two Pac-10 Championships and a two-year record of 26-9-5. During his two years in Westwood Bravo, who scored once in four appearances with the U.S. National Team, recruited a number of players who have gone on to successful careers in MLS and Europe, as well as with the U.S. National Team, including Jonathan Bornstein, Benny Feilhaber, Kamani Hill, Marvell Wynne, Sal Zizzo and many more.
Galaxy Acquire Stefani Miglioranzi
The Galaxy welcomed back a familiar face today as the club acquired midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi (seen above in a Reserve Division game from 2006) from the MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew in exchange for a conditional pick in the Fourth Round of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
Following an eight-year career in England with Portsmouth and Swindon Town, Miglioranzi first joined the Galaxy in September 2006. He appeared in three games for the club, all as a substitute, that season before being traded to Columbus in January 2007 in exchange for a Third Round pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. A central midfielder who is also capable of playing in defense, he appeared in 37 games for the Crew in his two seasons in Columbus, scoring three goals and adding three assists. He played in 14 games in 2008, making seven starts, while helping lead the Crew to the 2008 MLS Cup, a game in which he was an unused substitute.
A native of Pocos de Caldas, Brazil, Miglioranzi moved to the United States at the age of 12 before attending Iona College, where he was the MAAC Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 1995. He transferred to St. John’s for the 1996 season and helped lead the Red Storm to the National Championship that year.
