The LA Galaxy signed 30 new players on Monday – but don't worry, they aren't ditching the squad that won the club its fifth MLS Cup championship last season.
These newest acquisitions make up the LA Galaxy Southern California Special Olympics (SOSC) Unified Soccer Team, which will compete against other MLS-affiliated Special Olympics Unified Teams during the year.
“We are very excited to assemble a Southern California Special Olympics Unified Team with some of the most outstanding athletes from Los Angeles,” said head coach and general manager Bruce Arena in a statement. “We think each player offers unique qualities both on and off the field to be a great member of the LA Galaxy. We are confident they will uphold the Galaxy’s standard as the premier soccer club in North America through their hard work, dedication and effort.”
- Find more coverage of the Galaxy’s SOSC Unified Team at LAGalaxy.com
All 30 players were on hand for a special ceremony at StubHub Center’s Champions Lounge to announce their signed professional contracts. They were welcomed to the club by defender
Omar Gonzalez
and Galaxy legend
Landon Donovan
, who presented each player with their new LA Galaxy jersey ahead of the team’s upcoming season.
The LA Galaxy SOCS Unified Team is composed of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities from ages 14-22 to encourage teamwork, hard work and inclusion through the sport of soccer. The team will compete against other MLS-affiliated Special Olympics Unified Soccer teams throughout the course of the season, with the support of the LA Galaxy first team, whose players and coaches will interact with the Unified Team during the year.
“Signing these 30 players is a major coup for the Galaxy organization,” said Galaxy president Chris Klein. “The Galaxy have a tradition of signing the world’s best and most talented footballers, and we are thrilled to continue to be a destination for these premier players.”
