Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, Jan. 4, 2011

Frankie Comes To [Bring Glory For] Hollywood

It seems imminent that Frankie Hejduk will close out his storied career in Major League Soccer as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy. Stints in Germany, Switzerland and a couple of World Cups with the US men's national team are just the bonus to a decade and a half of playing the world's game on America's stage.

The Galaxy signed Hejduk to a one-year contract. The Galaxy acquired the rights to Hejduk earlier this month in a trade with Sporting Kansas City, who had selected him in the first round of Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Process, in exchange for the rights to midfielder Luke Sassano.

“We’re very pleased to be able to come to terms with Frankie Hejduk,” said manager Bruce Arena. “I believe he will be a great addition to our team and will give us added depth and experience to our backline.”

"I'm going back to my roots, where it all began,” Hejduk told MLSSoccer.com earlier last week. “What a great opportunity to get to play in front of my friends and family.

“I’m happy that everything worked out the way it did and very excited to join a great organization and team like the LA Galaxy The most important thing is the opportunity to help this club and its fans win an MLS Cup championship. At the end of the day that is everyone’s goal and if I can be a part of that any way shape or form, that will be great.”

So, what does Hejduk plan to do as a member of the Galaxy?

“With all the games we’re going to have, with the Champions League and US Open Cup and MLS games with a couple of added teams," Hejduk said, "it’s going to bring added depth to a team that’s going to need depth.

“I’ve been a part of that [as a member of the Columbus Crew]. I kind of know what it’s about, so I can help out there in that respect.”

Besides depth and his role on defense, Hejduk will rely on his experience and veteran leadership to become an integral part of the Galaxy's 2011 campaign.

“Experience – you can’t buy that, you can’t teach that," Hejduk said of his years as a player. "It’s something that’s gained, so were going to bring that side to the team. The more experience a team can have, the better.

“With this team, especially, there is an incredible mix of not only incredible experience but a bunch of top-talent youth as well. It’s going to mix really well.”

Hejduk embraced the opportunity to finish his career locally:

“As a Sothern California native, to get an opportunity to play in front of my family and friends is a cool thing that not too many people get to do,” Hejduk said. “In addition, the transition into the locker room is going to be an easy one for me as I already have a bond with many of the players here through the National Team program.

"It’s not very often you get to play with other World Cup veterans on your team and I’m really looking forward to playing with them as well as some of the young and up and coming MLS stars on the Galaxy roster.”

And that is an opportunity Frankie Hejduk will look to seize as he comes to bring glory to Hollywood and the Los Angeles Galaxy.