Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, Jan. 11, 2011

So Long, Edson Buddle

It's the end of an era as forward Edson Buddle left the Los Angeles Galaxy on a free transfer to sign with German 2. Bundesliga side FC Ingolstadt 04. Buddle scored 42 goals in 87 regular season games since joining the Galaxy in June 2007. His best season came last year, when he scored 17 goals for LA, good for second-best in the league.

“While I have decided to leave the Galaxy, I do so with fond memories of my four years with the club,” Buddle said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Los Angeles and will miss my teammates, coaches, staff and everyone who works for the club as they helped make me the player that I am today.

"I also want to thank all of the great Galaxy fans who have supported me ever since I arrived at the club and I am hopeful that one day I will be able to return to the Galaxy and help lead them to an MLS Cup championship.”

The Galaxy lost just once in 2010 when Buddle scored a goal, recording a 13-1-1 record in all competitions. The fourth-leading scorer in club history and the only player in MLS history with 40 or more goals for two different clubs, Buddle factored in 21 of the club’s 47 regular season and postseason goals, scoring 19 and assisting on two others.

Buddle also joins Carlos Ruiz as the only two players in Galaxy history to record multiple seasons with 15 or more goals and became the seventh player in MLS history to score 90 or more goals in his MLS career.

With the loss of Buddle, Los Angeles will need to focus on finding a forward capable of providing the same firepower that propelled the Galaxy to the 2010 Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield.



Cobi Jones to the Cosmos

If there was ever a more obvious sign that the New York Cosmos intend to be the 20th Major League Soccer club, this was the one.

This week, Galaxy assistant coach Cobi Jones chose to leave the club and become Associate Director of Soccer for the Cosmos. Jones played for the Galaxy from 1996-2007 and was an assistant coach for three seasons.

“I am both honored and blessed to have had such a wonderful career with the LA Galaxy and I am thankful for everything the club, the fans and the community has done for me and my family,” Jones said. “While I am excited to begin this next chapter of my career, I am honored to have been part of the Galaxy organization for the last 15 years as a player, a coach and a member of the LA soccer community.

"I am thrilled that I was able to play professional soccer in my hometown and help lead the team to championships, hoisting the MLS Cup trophy and more. For that, I will forever be grateful to the Galaxy and the fans."

“Cobi has been the heart and soul of the LA Galaxy and the one constant of our team since the day we acquired the franchise,” said Tim Leiweke, President and CEO, AEG, owner/operators of the MLS franchise.  

“His contributions to Major League Soccer, the United States National Team and soccer in America are immeasurable and unparalleled as is the amount of class he has always exhibited on and off the pitch. We share his excitement and support this new opportunity 100 percent and hope that someday it will lead him back to the league."

"We thank Cobi for his outstanding contributions as both a player and coach for the LA Galaxy, and wish him the very best in his new endeavor,” said Galaxy manager Bruce Arena. “He will always be a part of the Galaxy family."

The loss of Jones is even more significant because of the legacy he had as a member of the G's. Even with Gregg Berhalter bumped up to a coaching capacity, it will be very interesting to see how the team copes with the loss of a legend to the rebirth of another legendary organization across the country.