On 15 June 1994, in the year the USA hosted the World Cup, the new MLS league announced that Los Angeles would get a team. LA Galaxy turns 33 on 15 June 2027. It is the most successful team in the history of the American league.

A league is born

At a press conference at Soldier Field in Chicago, MLS revealed the first seven cities that would have a team, Los Angeles among them. That same summer the World Cup final was played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

The Galaxy were one of the league's ten founding members when play began in 1996. Their first home was that very Rose Bowl, where in 2023 a derby against LAFC would draw 82,110 fans, an MLS record.

Why "Galaxy"

There are two versions of the name's origin. The more romantic one says it refers to Los Angeles as the home of Hollywood's "stars".

The more prosaic one says the name was coined by Nike when the league was set up. Sources do not settle which is true; perhaps both are.

Teal, black and the first shirt

The first shirt, made by Nike, was unveiled in October 1995 and was half teal and half black, with gold and red details. Mauricio Cienfuegos later said the design was meant to reflect every player's nationality, while Robin Fraser simply called it "horrible".

On 13 April 1996 the Galaxy beat the MetroStars 2-1 in front of 69,255 fans at the Rose Bowl, with Cobi Jones scoring the first goal in club history. They opened the season with 12 straight wins, but lost the first MLS Cup final to D.C. United in overtime.

Years of gold, green and white followed. The 2003-04 shirt brought the first star and the first trademark sash.

The first trophies

In 2000 the team won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Two years later came the first MLS Cup, a 1-0 win over New England with a Carlos Ruiz goal in extra time.

In 2003 the Galaxy moved to Carson, to the stadium now called Dignity Health Sports Park. In 2005 Landon Donovan arrived from San Jose, going on to become the club's all-time top scorer with 141 goals, and the team won a second title.

Beckham, Zlatan and six titles

In 2007 David Beckham arrived from Real Madrid, and a complete rebrand came with him. The colours became navy blue, gold and white and the badge a blue shield with a gold border.

With Beckham, Donovan and Robbie Keane the Galaxy won titles in 2011, 2012 and 2014, while the sash returned to the shirt in 2012. In 2018 came Zlatan Ibrahimović, who scored twice on his debut in the first derby against LAFC.

On 7 December 2024, with a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls, the team lifted a sixth MLS Cup, a league record. Cobi Jones holds the appearance record with 392.

Celebrate with us

From the 1994 press conference to six league stars, the Galaxy turned Los Angeles into a football city. Happy 33rd birthday to the team that gathered the biggest stars!

See our collectible jerseys at sportarena.gr.

Photo: Dignity Health Sports Park during a 2024 play-off match – Sander Valdre, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.