Tom Payne Leaves LA Galaxy, Chris McGowan Named New COO

After nine years with the LA Galaxy, director of business operations Tom Payne on Friday decided to leave the organization. Payne will be replaced by Chris McGowan, who will assume duties as COO, taking charge of all day-to-day business operations of the club.

McGowan, 38, will hold dual roles with the Galaxy and Los Angeles Kings, for whom he has been COO for the last five years. Both the Galaxy and Kings are owned by AEG.

"With our recent MLS Cup Championship, the return of David Beckham and our outstanding roster heading into this season, the Galaxy will continue their rapid growth in this marketplace under Chris’ leadership," said AEG CEO Tim Leiweke. "Also with the addition of our new partnership with Time Warner Cable Sports, we now have a tremendous opportunity to significantly increase our reach and support in both the English and Spanish-speaking population, and with Chris’ knowledge combined with AEG’s resources, we expect that growth to be unprecedented in our history with the Galaxy."

Payne will temporarily remain with the Galaxy to assist in the transition. "After nine great years here at The Home Depot Center, I have made the decision to leave the Galaxy organization. I have enjoyed my time with the club and have fond memories of all the great things that we have accomplished, including winning the MLS Cup last year in front of our home fans," Payne said Friday in a statement.

To discuss the LA Galaxy and all their offseason moves and news, head on over to LAG Confidential.

LA Galaxy Acquire Kyle Nakazawa From Philadelphia Union

The LA Galaxy continued their busy Wednesday by trading for former UCLA Bruins star Kyle Nakazawa, acquiring the midfielder along with a second round pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft from the Philadelphia Union in exchange for an international roster spot in 2012.

Wednesday was a day of soccer stars returning to Los Angeles, as the Galaxy also signed Edson Buddle earlier in the day. Nakazawa, who turns 24 in March, was drafted by Philadelphia in the third round in 2010 draft. In 2011, Nakazawa set career highs by appearing in 22 games, starting 14, and scoring one goal and tallying three assists.

While at UCLA, Nakazawa scored 20 goals and had 26 assists in 75 games over four years in Westwood.

By giving up one international spot to Philadelphia in the trade, the Galaxy will now be able to have seven international players on their roster in 2012, after which the club will return one international spot to D.C. United as part of a previous trade while receiving spots back from the Union and the Portland Timbers, who also acquired an international spot from the club in a prior trade.

To discuss the LA Galaxy and all their offseason moves and news, head on over to LAG Confidential.

Edson Buddle Signs With LA Galaxy On Free Transfer

The Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday announced the signing of forward Edson Buddle on a free transfer, bringing back one of the most prolific goal scorers in franchise history. Buddle left the Galaxy in January 2011 and played a year with FC Ingolstadt of the German 2.

"I am thrilled to be able to return to MLS and a club that has meant so much to me in my career," Buddle said. "When I left for Germany last winter, I said that I hoped to be able to one day return to the Galaxy and help lead the club to an MLS Cup championship. That day is today and I look forward to the challenges that now lie ahead."

Buddle, a member of the U.S. National Team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, scored 42 goals in 87 regular season games with the Galaxy in four seasons from 2007-2010. His best year was in 2010, when he finished second in the MLS with 17 goals as the Galaxy won their first Supporters Shield in eight seasons.

"We’re really excited to have Edson re-joining the LA Galaxy,” General Manager and Head Coach Bruce Arena said. “He has been an outstanding player for us in the past and we look forward to him continuing that success for many years to come."

Buddle, who has also played for the Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls, has 90 goals in 231 career games in his 10-year career, making him the eighth leading scorer in MLS history.

To discuss Buddle and the Galaxy, head on over to LAG Confidential.

David Beckham To Announce His Return At Thursday Press Conference, According To Source

Early this morning, it was confirmed by a source to Soccer By Ives that David Beckham would be announcing his return to the LA Galaxy at the press conference tomorrow. Yahoo Sports claims that press conference is likely to be held in a downtown AEG property, either Staples or at LA Live. The Galaxy held their MLS Cup celebration party at Staples, and had their third kit unveiling at LA Live.

Yahoo Sports is also reporting that allowing Beckham time off to be an ambassador for the London Olympics, as well as playing in them, was a key component in Beckham returning. Paris St. Germain, Beckham's most vocal suitor, would have been in offseason during the Olympics. PSG could also offer Beckham more money.

This could mean that PSG was not so much a place Beckham hoped to land, but rather a tool to get leverage on the Galaxy where a 36 year old man would not usually have leverage. Keep in mind, this is a man who claimed he had to leave the Cup part early to take his kids to school. Putting family first, especially when the kids are school age and a baby in the house, usually doesn't mean moving across a continent and an ocean.

The full story won't come out until tomorrow's press conference, if the conference is indeed happening tomorrow. Beckham does have an online chat planned via Google+ for that morning. Contract details will likely trickle out over the next month.

MLS And LA Galaxy Unveil 2012 Schedule

Today MLS and the LA Galaxy unveiled the 2012 regular season schedule, which will see the Galaxy play 34 games - 15 of which will be broadcast nationally in English. The Galaxy will be part of First Kick weekend, opening up the season at home on March 10th against Real Salt Lake. This year MLS has returned to an unbalanced schedule, which will see the Galaxy play each Western Conference opponent three times, and each Eastern Conference opponent just once.

Out of their 24 Western Conference games, there will be 12 at home and 12 on the road. They will face FC Dallas, the Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, and the Vancouver Whitecaps twice at home, once on the road; and they will face Chivas USA, the Colorado Rapids, San Jose Earthquakes, and Seattle Sounders FC once at home, twice on the road.

When it comes to the 10 Eastern Conference Games, they will face DC United, the New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, and Toronto FC at home. The Galaxy will face the Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo, Montreal Impact, and Sporting Kansas City. The Galaxy will have two separate trips to the Rust Belt, but will not venture as far as the original thirteen colonies.

ESPN is set to air 8 Galaxy matches this year, airing two of the three legs of the SuperClasico against Chivas USA (May 19 and August 12), as well as games against Sporting Kansas City (April 7), New York Red Bulls (May 5), San Jose Earthquakes (June 30), Chicago Fire (July 8) and two games against the rival Seattle Sounders FC (August 5 and October 28).

The newly launched NBC Sports Network will carry 7 Galaxy matches first on March 31 when the club hosts the New England Revolution to close out their season-opening three-game homestand. The network will also broadcast two of the club’s three meetings with FC Dallas (July 28 and August 26), as well as games against the Houston Dynamo (May 26), Portland Timbers (July 14), Columbus Crew (August 15) and Colorado Rapids (September 30).

For an in-depth look at the LA Galaxy schedule, check out LAG Confidential.

David Beckham Yet To Sign Contract, Saga Continues

With his five year contract with the LA Galaxy completed, David Beckham is free to negotiate with whomever he pleases. His loudest suitor has been Paris St.-Germain, who in the past few days have told the French press their deal with Beckham is 99% done. However, as the movie The Damned United illustrated, that means they don't have a signature. 

The deal they're so sure he would take was reportedly 800,000 Euros a month for 18 months. That's quite a lot to pay for a 36 year old midfielder, even if he is stil one the best free kick takers in the game. Le Parisien came down a bit from that figure when their Wednesday paper finally went to print; 670,000 Euros per month. 

Still, Beckham's handlers were adamant that no deal had been reached. "There has been no agreement reached with any club. Any talk of a deal is premature. David is yet to make a decision." 

The hardest part in analyzing these rumors is figuring out motivation. Is Beckham's camp simply wary of being seen coming to business terms before the transfer window officially opens? Is this simply a negotiating tactic, or is Beckham still seriously considering the LA Galaxy offer. 

It came out Wednesday that new terms have been tabled in negotiations with the LA Galaxy and David Beckham. Most reports have been of a one year renewal, with the possibility of Beckham getting a management position at AEG after he retires. He already has the option to purchase an MLS team from his previous contract. 

For parties on both sides of the pond, the negotiations are as much about image as they are football talent. David Beckham raised the global stature of the Galaxy over his five years, and sold a lot of shirts. PSG already has mockups of a Beckham shirt floating around. 

Only Beckham knows where he'll end up. For the sake of the soccer fans who supported him in LA, hopefully his decision is announced soon. 

Landon Donovan, Everton Agree To Short-Term Loan From LA Galaxy

Landon Donovan is heading back to Everton on a two-month loan before returning back to the L.A. Galaxy.

LA Galaxy Sign Midfielder Marcelo Sarvas From LD Alajuelense

The LA Galaxy saw LD Alajuelense twice this past calendar year in CONCACAF Champions League. Manager Bruce Arena liked what he saw in midfielder Marcelo Sarvas, enough to sign him to an MLS contract. The 30 year old Brazilian was acquired on a free transfer, and has his P-1 visa approved earlier today. 

Marvelo Sarvas came out of the Corinthians youth system in Brazil. He went to Europe in 2004 and bounced around the Swedish league. He signed with Alajuelense on January 17, 2011, making 21 appearances in thirty games during the year. This includes all six of Alajuelense's Champions League appearances. 

In his time in Costa Rica, Sarvas helped Alajuelense win the 2011 Verano title and a berth in the 2011 Invierno championship. He scored three goals, including two in the recent Invierno. Costa Rica, like Mexico, crowns two champions a year, holding two separate competitions. 

Sarvas is pegged as a holding midfielder, much like Juninho, which is a spot the Galaxy need more support at. Michael Stephens, the recent draft pick from UCLA, and Chris Birchall play more of a defensive midfielder role, while Mike Magee is a wing runner. When Juninho wasn't available due to a red card in the MLS playoffs, his absence showed in that transition from midfield play to attacking third. 

For more on the LA Galaxy, this signing, and why the Galaxy should never go back to Teal, check out www.lagconfidential.com.

LA Galaxy Conclude Asian Tour, Now Focus On Beckham's Future; Preseason Tournament

The 2011 MLS Champions LA Galaxy returned home yesterday, after a two week tour of the Asia Pacific region and Australia. The MLS Champs were undefeated on their trip, defeated an Indonesian Selection 01-, the Philippines National Team 1-6, and the Melbourne Victory in penalty kicks 2-2 (3-4). David Beckham played more than 80 minutes in what could have been his final game with the LA Galaxy. 

In large part to Beckham's presence, the Galaxy were well received in all three countries. The Galaxy visited a children's hospital in Melbourne, and an orphanage in Manila. While they were in Jakarta, LA Galaxy manager Bruce Arena received a phone call from President Barack Obama congratulating him on his MLS Cup win. 

Now that the 2011 season is officially over, it's time to start looking ahead to next year's roster. Gregg Berhalter retired, Adam Cristman in renegotiating, and Juninho's loan status needs to be straightened out. There's also the status of David Beckham to fret over. However, we now know whomever is on the roster will be participating in a preseason tournament in Tuscon. 

The former Spring Training home of the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks will be used this preseason to host four MLS teams (Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, New York Red Bulls, and New England Revolution) as they get their rosters ready for next season. The tournament is called the Desert Diamond Cup, and will conclude four days before the Galaxy have to take on Toronto FC on the road in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League. 

LA Galaxy's Michael Stephens Named To US U-23 Roster

LA Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens was one of 28 players named to Caleb Porter's U-23 National Team Squad. The U-23 camp is in preparation for next year's olympic squad in London. After three years at UCLA, Michael Stephens was drafted by the LA Galaxy in the first round of the 2010 SuperDraft. Stephens has made 50 appearances since his debut in May of 2010. He has one goal in that time. The complete roster is as follows: 

GOALKEEPERS (4): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Zac MacMath (Philadelphia Union)

DEFENDERS (8): Gale Agbossoumonde (Eintracht Frankfurt), Royal-Dominique Fennell (Stuttgarter Kickers), Sebastien Ibeagha (Duke), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo), Zarek Valentin (Montreal Impact), Jorge Villafana (Chivas USA), Andrew Wenger (Duke), Sheanon Williams (Philadelphia Union)

MIDFIELDERS (10): Freddy Adu (Philadelphia Union), Bryan Arguez (Montreal Impact), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabæk), Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew), Jared Jeffrey (Mainz), Sebastian Lletget (West Ham United), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union), Michael Stephens (LA Galaxy)

FORWARDS (6): Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Teal Bunbury (Sporting KC), Jann George (Nürnberg), Joe Gyau (Hoffenheim), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Andrew Wooten (Kaiserslautern)

LA Galaxy Make Three Players Available For Re-Entry Process

The LA Galaxy and MLS announced today that the LA soccer club has made three players available for the Re-Entry Draft to be held Monday, Dec. 5. The club will not be picking up the contract options on forward Adam Cristman, midfielder Jovan Kirovski, and defenders Dasan Robinson and Frankie Hejduk. Jovan Kirovski has elected not to go through the Re-Entry draft process, so only Cristman, Robinson, and Hejduk will be available in Monday's Re-Entry draft.

The Re-Entry draft is done via a conference call, with the draft order the same as the waiver order. Teams will have the option to either take a player or pass when their turn comes. Each stage continues until all clubs have passed. The LA Galaxy will select 18th. The Montreal Impact, having had the opportunity to take players in the expansion draft, pick last.

The Galaxy selected Juan Pablo Angel and Luke Sassano in last year's Re-Entry draft, then traded Sassano to get Frankie Hejduk. LA traded a first round Supplemental Draft pack to get Adam Cristman last offseason. Dasan Robinson was acquired in September for Kyle Davies, who the Galaxy were able to get off wavers earlier in the year. Kirovski is the only player with significant time on the Galaxy, picked up in 2009 as well as a stint 2004-05. 

This is MLS' second year holding a Re-Entry draft. It's the closest thing Major League soccer has to free agency. Major League Baseball, in it's early years of free agency, held a similar draft. It gives players a chance to renegotiate contracts, but not the chance to make teams bid against each other. 

Didier Drogba On The Los Angeles Galaxy Could Happen

Could Didier Drogba, one of the greatest soccer players in Europe who currently plays for Chelsea, be joining the L.A. Galaxy?

LA Galaxy On Two Week Tour Of Asian Pacific Rim

LA Galaxy Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts Traded To Montreal Impact

The Los Angeles Galaxy announced today that they have traded goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to the Montreal Impact for allocation money. Ricketts, who has 87 caps with the Jamaican National Team, played the majority of his career at Bradford City A.F.C.