Los Angeles Galaxy: Ins and Outs, December 19, 2011

Juninho leaves LA to sign 3-year deal with Sao Paulo

After a few years with Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, it looks like the loan from Sao Paulo FC is complete with Juninho. And for LA fans, it's not the news they wanted.

According to a twitter feed from FM Sports, Juninho has signed a three-year deal with Sao Paulo. Unless the midfielder is immediately loaned back, the absence means that there is a huge void in the midfield, and Marcelo Sarvas's role will become magnified when next year's matches begin.

From 2010 through 2011, Juninho made 55 league appearances for the Los Angeles Galaxy, scoring six goals and leading the team to a couple of MLS Supporters' Shields and and MLS Cup. In addition, the midfielder's work resulted in the Galaxy progressing to the Championship Round of the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League.

Not only will Sarvas be required to fill in the shoes of the outgoing Brazilian, but now another midfielder will need to be acquired to make up for the loss of Juninho to Sao Paulo.

More business work for the rest

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation celebrated the holiday season by hosting their annual Holiday Assist Program for children and families in need last Thursday at the Home Depot Center.

Galaxy captain Landon Donovan, who will be taking off for Everton at the end of the year; defender Sean Franklin; mascot Cozmo; and other Galaxy front office staff and volunteers were all on hand for this event.

The Galaxy Foundation’s Holiday Assist Program was created to address the difficulties many children and families face during the holiday season. In the past the program has been implemented in a variety of ways including building and handing out Soccer Santa teddy bears and toys with Galaxy players and staff at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, adopting and taking 100 children on a holiday shopping spree at a local retailer as well as hosting a winter wonderland Holiday party for children in need.

Herzog reunites with Jurgen again

Filling in the coaching ranks on the USA men's national team's front is former Austrian international Andreas Herzog, who stepped from his post as the manager of Austria's Under-21 national team this past weekend.

“[Current USA Men's National Team Manager] Jurgen Klinsmann and I have been close friends for many years now. I face this new challenge with great confidence,” Herzog said in the Austrian federation’s statement, according to MLSSoccer.com.

Herzog also was a former Los Angeles Galaxy player, appearing in 27 matches for the G's in 2004. Herzog is also the all-time leading scorer for the Austrian national team (26 goals) after appearing in 103 international matches between 1998-2003.