A. J. DeLaGarza facts for kids
DeLaGarza with LA Galaxy in 2013
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adolph Joseph DeLaGarza | ||
| Date of birth | November 4, 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Bryans Road, Maryland, United States | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
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Current team
|
Des Moines Menace | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | Maryland Terrapins | 88 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2016 | LA Galaxy | 204 | (2) |
| 2015 | LA Galaxy II | 1 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | Houston Dynamo | 57 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Rio Grande Valley (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2020 | Inter Miami CF | 5 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | New England Revolution | 14 | (0) |
| 2024– | Des Moines Menace | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 285 | (2) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2012 | United States | 2 | (0) |
| 2013–2019 | Guam | 14 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 13, 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 19, 2020 |
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Adolph Joseph DeLaGarza, born on November 4, 1987, is a former professional soccer player. He was a key player for the LA Galaxy in the early 2010s. With the Galaxy, he helped win three MLS Cups and two Supporters' Shields. As of 2024, he plays for the USL League Two club Des Moines Menace.
He played for the U.S. National Team in 2012. Later, from 2013 to 2019, he played for the Guam National Team, representing his family's heritage.
Contents
Early Life and College Soccer
DeLaGarza was born in Bryans Road, Maryland. His father has Mexican and Chamorro roots, and his mother is Native American.
Youth Soccer Journey
At age 12, DeLaGarza played for the D.C. United U-12 team in France. He also played for Baltimore Casa Mia's Bays, winning two national championships. In high school, he played for Henry E. Lackey High School. He was named all-state twice and all-county four times.
Playing for Maryland Terrapins
DeLaGarza played college soccer at the University of Maryland, College Park. In 2005, he helped Maryland win the National Championship. He started the final game, helping his team keep a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory. In 2008, he was named to the College Cup All-Tournament Team. He also helped Maryland win another National Championship and the ACC Championship that year.
Professional Club Career
Joining the LA Galaxy
The LA Galaxy drafted DeLaGarza in 2009. He made his professional debut on March 22, 2009, against D.C. United. He played the full 90 minutes as a left back in a 2–2 draw. He quickly became a regular player, often playing at right back.
In his first season, he played over 1,700 minutes. He got his first assist on July 11, helping the Galaxy win 1–0. DeLaGarza scored his first goal for LA on September 12, 2009. He helped the Galaxy defense improve greatly, setting a club record with 12 clean sheets. This strong defense helped LA finish first in their conference. The Galaxy reached the MLS Cup final but lost to Real Salt Lake.
Winning with the Galaxy
On May 1, 2010, DeLaGarza scored a very quick goal, just 51 seconds into the game. The Galaxy won 3–1 against the Philadelphia Union. He also played in the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time. In 2010, the Galaxy won the Supporters' Shield. DeLaGarza played in many positions, including left back, center back, and right back. He played every minute of their playoff games as a center back.
In 2011, DeLaGarza became a key center back for the Galaxy. He played in 30 of 34 regular season matches. He also played every minute in cup games and Champions League matches. The Galaxy won the Supporters' Shield again. They also won the MLS Cup, beating the Houston Dynamo 1–0. This made them one of the few clubs to win both in the same season.
In 2012, DeLaGarza started all 30 of his league games at center back. He and Omar Gonzalez formed a strong defensive pair. In October 2012, DeLaGarza got a serious injury that kept him out of the rest of the season. Even without him, the Galaxy won the MLS Cup again, beating the Dynamo 3–1. DeLaGarza was named the Galaxy Defensive Player of the Year for his strong play.
Continued Success and Challenges
DeLaGarza remained important to LA's defense in 2013. He scored his first Champions League goal on April 3. He played both right back and center back throughout the season. In September, he dislocated his elbow, missing the rest of the regular season. He returned for the Champions League and playoffs.
The 2014 season was one of DeLaGarza's best. He played mostly as a center back, but also as a left and right back. He led a defense that allowed the fewest goals in MLS. He was named the Galaxy Defensive Player of the Year for a second time. He also had two assists in the playoffs, helping the Galaxy reach the MLS Cup final. They won 2–1 in extra time against the New England Revolution.
DeLaGarza missed three games in September 2014 due to a personal tragedy. His son, Luca, passed away shortly after birth due to a rare heart defect. In Luca's memory, DeLaGarza and his family started the Luca Knows Heart foundation. This foundation helps others with similar heart conditions. DeLaGarza received the 2014 MLS Humanitarian of the Year Award for his work.
The 2015 season was tough for DeLaGarza and the Galaxy. He played in 24 league games, but the team was eliminated early in the playoffs. He also dealt with a groin injury throughout the season. In 2016, DeLaGarza continued to lead one of the league's best defenses. He became only the fifth Galaxy player to make 200 regular season appearances. His ability to play multiple positions was very valuable. The Galaxy made the playoffs again but lost in the semi-finals.
After eight seasons, DeLaGarza was traded to the Houston Dynamo in January 2017.
Time with Houston Dynamo
In Houston, DeLaGarza played mainly as a right back. He made his Dynamo debut on March 4, 2017, in a 2–1 win. He got his first assist for the Dynamo on May 6. He helped the Dynamo reach the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. However, in the final game of the regular season, he suffered a torn ACL. This serious injury kept him out for the playoffs and most of 2018.
DeLaGarza signed a new contract with Houston in January 2018. He returned to play in August 2018 with the Dynamo's affiliate team, Rio Grande Valley FC. He later rejoined the Dynamo. He was on the bench for the 2018 US Open Cup Final, which Houston won 3–0. He played in four of the final five games of the season.
In 2019, DeLaGarza was back to full health and played as the primary right back. He played in the CONCACAF Champions League matches. He made 14 straight starts in MLS games. His season ended on August 31 when he broke his foot. After the 2019 season, his contract with the Dynamo ended.
Later Career Teams
On December 2, 2019, DeLaGarza joined the new MLS team, Inter Miami CF. He debuted for Miami on October 3, 2020. In a shorter season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he played in 5 games. He started in their first playoff game, but they lost 3–0. His contract ended after the 2020 season.
As a free agent, DeLaGarza signed with the New England Revolution on January 7, 2021. His contract with New England ended after the 2022 season. On November 17, 2022, DeLaGarza signed a special one-day contract with LA Galaxy and officially retired from professional soccer.
In April 2024, DeLaGarza joined the Des Moines Menace for the 2024 U.S. Open Cup.
International Career
Playing for the United States
In December 2010, DeLaGarza was called to train with the United States men's national soccer team. He was on the roster for a game against Chile but did not play.
On January 21, 2012, DeLaGarza made his debut for the U.S. senior team. He started and played all 90 minutes in a 1–0 win against Venezuela. Four days later, he started and played the full game in a victory against Panama.
Representing Guam
DeLaGarza was also able to play for the Guam national football team because he had not played in a competitive match for the U.S. On August 27, 2013, he decided to play for Guam. He made his first appearance for Guam on November 16, 2013, in a friendly match. His first competitive game for Guam was on November 13, 2014.
On June 11, 2015, DeLaGarza started and played all 90 minutes in Guam's first-ever World Cup Qualifier win. They beat Turkmenistan 1–0. A few days later, he played in Guam's second World Cup Qualifier win against India. He announced his retirement from international soccer on April 19, 2020.
Personal Life
DeLaGarza is married to Megan, his high school sweetheart. They have a daughter named Noelle, born in October 2015. As mentioned, their son Luca passed away in 2014. The Luca Knows Heart foundation was created in his memory to help others with heart conditions.
DeLaGarza is good friends with Omar Gonzalez. They were teammates in college and with the LA Galaxy. DeLaGarza has Native-American, Mexican, and Chamorro heritage. He has a sister named Tabatha. He admired Barcelona and Spain legend Carles Puyol, who, like DeLaGarza, was a smaller center back with long hair.
Honors
LA Galaxy
- MLS Cup: 2011, 2012, 2014
- Supporters' Shield: 2010, 2011
Houston Dynamo
- US Open Cup: 2018
New England Revolution
- Supporters' Shield: 2021
Individual Awards
- LA Galaxy Defensive Player of the Year: 2012, 2014
- MLS Humanitarian of the Year Award: 2014
Images for kids
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DeLaGarza with LA Galaxy in 2013
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DeLaGarza with the Galaxy in August 2010
See also
In Spanish: Adolph Joseph DeLaGarza para niños
