Alexi Lalas, CK’88
Famous soccer defender in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, member of the National Soccer Hall of fame. He is currently the President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy professional soccer team.
Alexi Lalas, who played for the Galaxy from 2001-2003, enters his second season as the club’s President and General Manager. As the Galaxy’s top executive, Lalas oversees all business and soccer operations of the club. This season will see Lalas, whose stated ambition is to make the Galaxy a world-class brand, take his role to new heights with the club’s signing of global icon David Beckham.
Lalas, 36, was named the club’s President and General Manager on April 17, 2006. Prior to taking the Galaxy’s top job, Lalas served as President and General Manager of the New York Red Bulls (formerly the MetroStars) following a year as General Manager of the San Jose Earthquakes from 2004-2005.
Lalas immediately made his presence with the Galaxy known, hiring Canadian National Team head coach Frank Yallop to become the fifth head coach in Galaxy history on June 7, 2006. In addition hiring the 2001 MLS Coach of the Year, Lalas has also overseen the acquisition of U.S. National Team stars Joe Cannon and Nate Jaqua, Canadian National Team defender Ante Jazic and former England National Team captain David Beckham.
Lalas spent three seasons as a player with the Galaxy during which he won the 2002 MLS Cup, the 2001 U.S. Open Cup and the 2000 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup. In January 2004, shortly after his retirement at the end of the 2003 season, Lalas was named President and General Manager of the San Jose Earthquakes. He remained in this position for nearly 17 months before moving to the MetroStars in June 2005.
While with the Earthquakes, Lalas managed the business and soccer operations for the defending MLS Cup champions. During his first year with the team, the Earthquakes enjoyed a 24 percent boost in overall attendance and a 70 percent increase in group ticket sales compared to the previous season. In 2005, he built on the significant progress he made the previous year and continued to establish relationships with key members of the San Jose political, business and public communities.
Lalas joined the Earthquakes after an outstanding playing career that began with his first cap for the U.S. National Team in 1991. An Olympian in 1992 and 1996, Lalas was a member of the United States' 1994 and 1998 World Cup teams and in 1995 he was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. On the international club level, Lalas became the only American player ever to play in Italy's Serie A, as he signed with Padova in 1994. During his two seasons in Italy, Lalas scored three goals before deciding to return to the United States for the inaugural season of Major League Soccer in 1996.
Lalas has long been one of the leading figures and most familiar faces in U.S. soccer and he cemented his place in MLS history by making five all-star appearances during his seven-year career and garnering MLS Best XI honors in 2002. His MLS career began with the New England Revolution, who Lalas played with for two seasons before moving on to the MetroStars in 1998. He spent one season with the Kansas City Wizards in 1999 before retiring prior to the start of the 2000 season. However, he returned to MLS in 2001 and appeared in 59 games for the Galaxy over the next three years, capturing three championship titles.
During his initial retirement in 2000, Lalas served as San Jose’s color commentator for television broadcasts and he has also served as a soccer commentator for NBC, ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. He also sits on the Board of Advisors for the U.S. Soccer Federation's Grants Committee and the Athletes Council. Lalas served on the Board of Advisors for the FIFA Women's World Cup and in 2004 he joined the national advisory board for the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Back
Lalas, 36, was named the club’s President and General Manager on April 17, 2006. Prior to taking the Galaxy’s top job, Lalas served as President and General Manager of the New York Red Bulls (formerly the MetroStars) following a year as General Manager of the San Jose Earthquakes from 2004-2005.
Lalas immediately made his presence with the Galaxy known, hiring Canadian National Team head coach Frank Yallop to become the fifth head coach in Galaxy history on June 7, 2006. In addition hiring the 2001 MLS Coach of the Year, Lalas has also overseen the acquisition of U.S. National Team stars Joe Cannon and Nate Jaqua, Canadian National Team defender Ante Jazic and former England National Team captain David Beckham.
Lalas spent three seasons as a player with the Galaxy during which he won the 2002 MLS Cup, the 2001 U.S. Open Cup and the 2000 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup. In January 2004, shortly after his retirement at the end of the 2003 season, Lalas was named President and General Manager of the San Jose Earthquakes. He remained in this position for nearly 17 months before moving to the MetroStars in June 2005.
While with the Earthquakes, Lalas managed the business and soccer operations for the defending MLS Cup champions. During his first year with the team, the Earthquakes enjoyed a 24 percent boost in overall attendance and a 70 percent increase in group ticket sales compared to the previous season. In 2005, he built on the significant progress he made the previous year and continued to establish relationships with key members of the San Jose political, business and public communities.
Lalas joined the Earthquakes after an outstanding playing career that began with his first cap for the U.S. National Team in 1991. An Olympian in 1992 and 1996, Lalas was a member of the United States' 1994 and 1998 World Cup teams and in 1995 he was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. On the international club level, Lalas became the only American player ever to play in Italy's Serie A, as he signed with Padova in 1994. During his two seasons in Italy, Lalas scored three goals before deciding to return to the United States for the inaugural season of Major League Soccer in 1996.
Lalas has long been one of the leading figures and most familiar faces in U.S. soccer and he cemented his place in MLS history by making five all-star appearances during his seven-year career and garnering MLS Best XI honors in 2002. His MLS career began with the New England Revolution, who Lalas played with for two seasons before moving on to the MetroStars in 1998. He spent one season with the Kansas City Wizards in 1999 before retiring prior to the start of the 2000 season. However, he returned to MLS in 2001 and appeared in 59 games for the Galaxy over the next three years, capturing three championship titles.
During his initial retirement in 2000, Lalas served as San Jose’s color commentator for television broadcasts and he has also served as a soccer commentator for NBC, ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. He also sits on the Board of Advisors for the U.S. Soccer Federation's Grants Committee and the Athletes Council. Lalas served on the Board of Advisors for the FIFA Women's World Cup and in 2004 he joined the national advisory board for the Positive Coaching Alliance.
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