L.A. Galaxy MLS team has strong Valley ties

If the Los Angles Galaxy make the Major League Soccer playoffs this season, much of the credit will go to new coach Bruce Arena and star players David Beckham and Landon Donovan. And while that credit will be much-deserved, three Valley players have also played important roles.

Playing alongside Beckham new experience for Valley trio

Tempe's Greg Vanney, Gilbert's Alan Gordon and Glendale's Brandon McDonald have all made major contributions to the Galaxy this season.

In the Galaxy's game on Sept. 6, a 2-2 tie against Real Salt Lake, Gordon assisted on the game-tying goal in the 69th minute and McDonald was brought on as a substitute in the 56th minute.

In Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Kansas City Wizards, Vanney started and played the entire match, while Gordon was inserted as a substitute in the 69th minute.

The Galaxy are in last place in the Western Conference with a 6-9-9 record, but are still within four points of third place in the division. So the playoffs, which start at the beginning of November, are still within reach.

"We feel like we're moving in a positive direction with Bruce," Vanney said.

The three Valley players are at different phases of their careers. McDonald is a rookie and is trying to establish himself as an MLS player; Gordon is a five-year veteran who has made a name for himself as a quality forward who can score goals; and Vanney is nearing the end of his career.

A fourth Valley player for the Galaxy, Michael Gavin, is a rookie who has spent most of the season with the reserve team. He has been recovering from a broken bone in his foot and is on the team's disabled list.

Gavin and McDonald played together for the Valley youth club Sereno Golden Eagles.

"It was nice knowing someone," Gavin said of being reunited with McDonald. "We've talked and joked (the four Valley players) about being on the same team. ... It's a good thing for Arizona. It shows the state is playing good soccer."

Gordon, 26, a Gilbert High School graduate, has scored four goals and has six assists for the Galaxy this season. He's played in every game, starting nine times. Gordon's family still lives in the Valley and he tries to visit each offseason. His sister attends Gilbert Highland High, and a brother graduated from Highland. Gordon has benefited from the firing of former coach Ruud Gullit, who was replaced by Arena on Aug. 18.

"They (Arena and Gullit) have completely opposite styles of coaching," Gordon said. "With Ruud, you never knew where you were with him. It was hard to get comfortable. Bruce knows us. He knows MLS. ... Bruce knows I'm a target player. I think Ruud didn't know the league. I think he underestimated the league."

Vanney is also familiar with the MLS. He has played 10 seasons in the league and is in his second stint with the Galaxy. He began his career with Los Angeles in 1996 and played there until the 2001 season. He left for France to play for First Division team Bastia, but returned to the United States in 2005 with FC Dallas. He then went to Colorado and D.C. United before returning to the Galaxy this season.

Vanney has also made 37 appearances with the U.S national team, helping it qualify for the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

A graduate of Tempe Marcos de Niza High, Vanney said he thinks about the end of his career nearly "every day," but is focusing on the task at hand of helping the Galaxy make the playoffs.

"The older I get, the more I have to evaluate. We'll see. I don't think it will be much longer," he said.

Vanney also said he wants to give back to a game he has had the privilege to play. He is one of the founders of the Arizona Futbol Club, which was established in 1997, and serves as the president and technical director. The club has teams for nearly all age levels and has different levels depending on the commitment and/or competition level a player is looking for.

"We're pretty excited about the direction (of the club)," Vanney said. "We want to help promote and grow the sport."