Galaxy Swap Picks with RSL; Mathis Returns to LA
That means the Galaxy will drop to the 16th pick overall in today's Superdraft that's on-going in Philadelphia, while Real Salt Lake has taken University of Portland midfielder Collen Warner with the 15th pick.
Clint Mathis and Landon Donovan will be reunited at Home Depot Center next season - but this time they will be wearing the same colors.
Updated: Clint Mathis has returned to the Galaxy from RSL as part of the trade. The Galaxy also give RSL their third round draft pick next year.
Mathis had 15 goals and 17 assists in 65 starts for L.A.
The Galaxy has selected UCLA midfielder Michael Stephens with the 16th pick from RSL.
Guess Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena continues to surround himself with veterans he knows.
Updated: I just got off the telephone with Arena.
Here's what he said about Mathis:
"Clint Mathis has proved to everyone he's a quality player, he's a champion and we want him to be a champion with us, too. ... I know him and he knows me. Clint can play anywhere in the midfield and up front."
Arena observed that Mathis won't be a regular starter, but believes at age 33 he's still got the legs to make a difference:
"There's enough there. We just need to lean on his ability and his experience."
Here's what Arena said about Stephens:
"Mike Stephens is an exciting young talent and gives us the local flavor we want."
Updated:
And I just spoke with Stephens about being taken by the Galaxy:
"If you had asked me a week ago, this is definitely my first choice because I've spent this past summer training with the team ... I just felt comfortable with the organization as whole."
Stephens was a member of the Galaxy's U-20 team and spent a little over a month training with the senior squad and will bring some young legs to a veteran midfield:
"It seems like a good fit for me on a day to day to basis. ... I think I'm a high energy midfielder, I'm very active on the field and I'm sure that's what they're looking for."
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
You can't go back again....unless you're Clint Mathis. Third time round for him. Hope he stays longer than he did the last time. I still prefer to remember him during the '98 & '99 seasons rather than anything else he's done since.
Nick, thanks a lot for the quotes and coverage. it's very appreciated.
Should we assume that this is a different Clint Mathis from the mohawk-wearing kid from 2002?
The Galaxy needs speed, youth and depth. Mathis adds depth but neither of the other two.
I'm assuming Arena is using the draft to look for depth as he's already had his haul with the 3 brazilians.
Mathis? Meh. I complained about Arena's gathering of geezers last year, but they made it to the final. I'll reserve judgment.
Stephens? The Brazilians? I'm happy if there's a skilled, creative and fast midfield.
(This being a soccer blog, I won't repeat the old GWBush joke about "How many is a Brazilian?" Maybe we could adapt it.)
Finally Mathis returns home. The purest and most natural soccer player ever born in this country. Even Landon Donovan shares in that opinion. Vision, passion, touch, great shot and smarts. He is the one American player who gets my attention anytime he gets the ball. To me he's the American Paul Gascoigne skillwise but luckily he has matured since marriage and extended his career. It was stupid of the Galaxy not to offer him a contract 2 years ago after he came back from Greece and trained with them for a whole month.
Remember how well the Galaxy attack clicked with him, David and Landon in their last post season tour?