CARSON, Calif. -- Is it possible to be revered and underrated at the same time?
That seems to be A.J. DeLaGarza's fate. He's one of the most consistent backline players in American soccer and perhaps the best defender on the Galaxy roster, but although he's greatly valued by teammates and opponents alike, he rarely sees the kind of accolades and praise that goes to, say, Galaxy teammate Omar Gonzalez.
This has been perhaps the best season yet for the the six-year veteran, and his versatility, skill and ability to raise the games of those around him are among the reasons the Galaxy are playing Sunday afternoon against the New England Revolution at StubHub Center for their third MLS Cup title in four years (3 pm ET, ESPN, UniMas, UDN in US, TSN1, RDS2 in Canada).
“If he's still underrated, I think that people are just not watching,” said Dan Gargan, who has split time at right back in 2014 with DeLaGarza. “A.J. is very well-respected in this league from the players. He may not get credit from the media, but there are plenty of guys that don't get credit from the media that are still fantastic players, and as players, we know his value. He's a fantastic defender, and he's about as reliable as they come.”
The Galaxy always have treasured the 5-foot-9 Maryland native, who has been a steady starter at one spot or another since coming to LA as a steal in the second round of the 2009 SuperDraft. He's played all four backline positions this season across all competitions, with 15 appearances in the central defense, a dozen at right back and 11 at left back.
It's been a tough year for DeLaGarza, whose son, Luca, lived only a week after he was born in late August with a congenital heart condition, but he's been LA's steadiest central defender, providing the foundation that enables Gonzalez to do what he does best.
And he's been sensational on the flanks, contributing mightily to the attack while shutting down foes on his side of the field.
“I think I had my worst season off the field and my best season on the field ...,” said DeLaGarza, who turned 27 last month. “[Being on the field provided] a little motivation, and I just never gave up. I was put in different spots maybe the day before a game, like left back or right back, and I didn't have much time to prepare, but I was mentally focused and prepared.”
He won the Galaxy's Defender of the Year award, but he wasn't nominated for the league's defensive honor - Gonzalez was LA's choice - and didn't make the Best XI.
“A.J.'s a guy who's very consistent, who gives it 110 percent every time he steps on the field,” said Gonzalez, who was DeLaGarza's roommate and backline partner at the University of Maryland before they joined the Galaxy. “He's a guy you don't really need to worry about, because you know he's going to get the job done.
“Should he be on that Best XI? I think he makes a great case, and it's one that maybe should have gone to him.”
The Galaxy endured injury problems across the backline much of the season, and Gonzalez was gone for a long stretch for World Cup duty, and DeLaGarza was the go-to guy for whatever role needed to be filled. He's a complementary player, filling the gaps within teammates' games and making those around him better.
“He plays a simple game, and he covers and reads the game well, which makes things easier for guys that are around him,” Gargan said. “When he's in the middle, I think he really allows Omar to express himself and take chances and be Omar. And when he's on the outside, a great job of an outside back is if you can allow your midfielder to do what they need to do and be accountable for your defense, and that's him to a T.”
Associate head coach Dave Sarachan said the nuances to DeLaGarza's game are often overlooked.
“[Too many] don't see the little things and the intricacies [in DeLaGarza's game],” Sarachan said. “What they see are big guys who head the ball well make one or two tackles, but I haven't seen very many other players with the instincts he has. He was born to defend, he understands the position, and he is underrated, I think, because of his physical dimension. He's not a prototypical center back or defender.
“There are some players, when the game's over and you bring up moments in the game, they'll say, 'Which play are you referring to?' With A.J., you could ask him five days late about a play that happened in the 32nd minute, and he'll remember it. What that tells you is he's got real clarity. His eyes are open, his brain is engaged a high percentage of the time.”
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It's all about experience.
“Most guys [who are professional defenders] played totally different positions [while growing up, often] as forwards, and everyone moves around,” DeLaGarza said. “I've been a center back since I as 12, and I've stuck with that, so that's 14 years I've been at that position. I read the game well back there, and I've been with Omar for nine years, so I think we complement each other, and that just takes time.”
