This Is the Los Angeles Galaxy: Robbie Keane

This is Part 13 in a series of articles on players who will play for the Los Angeles Galaxy this season. One can only be great in Europe for so long. But once a player has done all he can for a club he has been a part of for a while, there comes a time where he has to move on and continue his footballing journey elsewhere. Such is the case with Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane. Known to his friends and his fans simply as "Keano," the 31-year-old captain of the Republic of Ireland National Team ventures across the pond after leaving a legacy of scoring in the Premier League. While it is too soon to say that Bruce Arena's Galaxy have found a solution to their scoring problems in spite of leading Major League Soccer as of this article date, the answer might come in the form of team's new No. 14.Keane was born on July 8, 1980, in Tallaght, the largest town in South Dublin County, Ireland. At a young age, Keane began playing football for youth side Crumlin United. The promise he brought as a forward won the attention of Liverpool F.C. and Wolverhampton ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Can Robbie Keane Deliver for LA?

With a breakout performance in the form of a 2-0 victory over CD Motagua in the CONCACAF Champions League, one would believe that Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are looking to finally turn the tables on Frank Yallop's San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. With Robbie Keane available for duty on Saturday night against the Quakes, one would believe that the Galaxy will take no prisoners. Sounds like a plan. In the meantime, the Galaxy (13-3-9, 48 points, 1st in MLS Western Conference) parted ways with Juan Pablo Angel as they shipped him to the club's main rival/co-tenant, Chivas USA. “He’s been a great professional for our team. He made us a better team, he really did,” Arena told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “I love him as a person and a player. He’s a first-class individual. I don’t know what more to say. I have nothing but the greatest respect for him.” “Juan is a first-class guy,” Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter said. “He set the standard that a lot of the older people on the team have established in this team, and that’s ‘You work hard no matter who you are.’ He came ...

Los Angeles Galaxy Get Down to Business, Shut Motagua Down, 2-0

Finally. Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are taking this CONCACAF Champions League seriously after all. However, to be fair, the same suspect finishing in the attacking third and lack of crisp passing that had been prevalent so far this season carried over on Tuesday night against Ramon Maradiaga's CD Motagua. Still, thanks to a 13th-minute strike from Adam Cristman, a 60th-minute volley from captain Landon Donovan and a couple of clutch saves late by goalkeeper Josh Saunders maintained a 2-0 victory over the Blue Eagles at the Home Depot Center before a crowd of over 8,000. It's a weeknight game. Obviously the stands would not be packed. But for the majority of those who did show up, they were treated to the possibilities that awaited the home side. “I think it was a good win against a very good team," Arena told the press after the match. "I think [if] we do a little bit better in the last 15 minutes, we put ourselves in an even better position. This competition is going to be difficult. "There are five more tough games in group play. I think our group is an outstanding group. Every game…every goal…every minute in this competition ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. C.D. Motagua Live Blog: Play-by-Play Analysis, Reaction

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy aimed to put their best foot forward when they take on Ramon Maradiaga's C.D. Motagua tonight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.Last season, the Galaxy were eliminated in the preliminary round by the Puerto Rico Islanders on aggregate, and this year, they aim to bounce back from a poor showing at Victoria Street.This year, there would be no repeat, as they disposed of the Blue Eagles 2-0 through goals by Adam Cristman in the 13th minute and Landon Donovan in the 60th minute.Keep it here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of all things world football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 22

Scrutiny? What scrutiny? It's called simplicity. No BCS or Harris-style complications in lists like this. Just pure merit and demerit.And make no fuss about it: for the first time in a while, the defending MLS Cup Champions are at the top of this week's MLS Power Rankings.We got movers, shakers, and some teams taking part in the CONCACAF Champions League this week. Let's jump right in.Begin Slideshow

Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs: August 14, 2011

Champions League measuring stick for GsBruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy regards the CONCACAF Champions League as the measuring stick for the organization and for Major League Soccer in particular. "This is really important, especially because of how we went out last year," second-year Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens told LAGalaxy.com's Larry Morgan. "I think this year we want to redeem ourselves and show that we have a team that can compete internationally as well as do well in MLS. "It’s very important to all of us." "It’s big," Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter said. "First of all, it’s a great experience, but more than that it’s a competition. And we want to go in with the mindset that we want to succeed in the tournament, and that means going to the next round. "It’s always a measuring stick. It gives you a chance to compare yourself but also compete at a good level." Last year, the Galaxy lost on aggregate to the Puerto Rico Islanders 5-3 in the Preliminary Round after an inexcusable 4-1 defeat in the first leg."It’s very important to help the level of MLS and we want to do well because we’re representing the Galaxy," said defender Chris Birchall. ...

Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, August 12, 2011: Robbie Keane to LA

Keano to the G's! Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane is heading to Los Angeles. The Republic of Ireland international will sign a two-year, $8 million contract with Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, according to Fox Sports.The 31-year-old striker has also appeared for Coventry City (England), Internazionale (Italy), Leeds United (England) and Liverpool (England) during a professional career that started in 1997. Keane scored a career high 23 goals (54 appearances) for Tottenham in 2007-08 before moving to Liverpool. After half a season at Anfield, Keane transferred back to White Hart Lane, where he has been unable to recapture a place in the team under manager Harry Redknapp. Attention to the Champions League Meanwhile, the Galaxy were going through their run leading up to the CONCACAF Champions League match Tuesday with Motagua (kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET). "In this competition the key for any team, is to do well at home, first and foremost," Galaxy associate coach Dave Sarachan told concacaf.com's Michael Lewis. "So when we have these teams at our place, we've got to get three points because going there is always a difficult task."  "We're actually happy with the schedule that we have the first two games at home."Sarachan had high praise for the manager of the ...

Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, August 11, 2011

No match days, no off days Even with Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy off for the week, the club were busy preparing for next Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League contest with CD Motagua at the Home Depot Center (kickoff: 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET). “We tried the last few days to get our legs back and kind of take a break,” Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “We don’t have many opportunities like this during the season. We have Thursday off and we come back Friday watching video and really diving into Motagua [the Galaxy’s first opponent in the CONCACAF Champions League on Aug. 16].” “We’re a team that needs a couple of days off, get a little rest, get our legs back and get ready for what’s going to be a really difficult August, September and October,” Arena remarked. “The little bit of a break we have right now is a plus.” Landon Donovan was the only Galaxy player that really didn't have an off day, as he was on national team duty against Mexico. The USA drew 1-1 with El Tri on Wednesday. “[The break] helps a lot,” Donovan said earlier this week. “Guys are beat up from ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. CD Motagua: Back to CONCACAF Champions League Action

The Los Angeles Galaxy ended their 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League run on a winning note with a 2-1 victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders. However, the victory came off the heels of a 4-1 shellacking in the first leg at the Home Depot Center. This time around, there will be no preliminary round blowouts to agonize over. In fact, Bruce Arena's Galaxy get a free pass to the group stage by way of winning the 2010 Major League Soccer Supporters Shield. Their group? A group that could arguably be called the "Group of Death": Group A, which includes L.D. Alajuelense, the 2010 Invierno and 2011 Verano champion from Costa Rica; Monarcas Morelia, the runner-up in the 2011 Primera Division de Mexico Clausura; and their first opponent, C.D. Motagua of Honduras's Liga Nacional. Motagua are a team based out of the nation's capital, Tegucigalpa. They won the Copa Interclubes UNCAP in 2007 and had a third-place finish in 2002. Last season in the 2010-11 Clausura, Los Aguilas Azules soared to the title on the wings of an 8-7-3 record (31 points) in the regular season, a 3-3 semifinal victory over C.D.S. Vida based on superior regular season performance and a 5-3 ...

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 21

Parity ran amok this week in Major League Soccer, with the top teams falling and the teams with the worst records pulling off stunning victories on the march.Above the fray, Seattle find themselves shooting back up to the top of the Power Rankings after going through the week without a defeat.The moving and shaking is what makes Bleacher Report's MLS Power Rankings an interesting list to follow, so let's go through the action from the past week.Begin Slideshow