It wasn't that long ago that Los Angeles Galaxy fans were watching Guillermo Ramirez volley home the game-winning goal in MLS Cup 2005 in extra time against the New England Revolution. That strike was just the second on the season for Ramirez, and did little to erase what could only be summarized as a disappointing season.
Nicknamed "Pando" in his native Guatemala, Ramirez arrived in Los Angeles with an impressive resume and lofty expectations. Captain of the national team and a leading goal scorer in Guatemala's Primera Division, the Galaxy front office expected him to fit in on the left side of midfield and bring that same leadership and goal-scoring ability to the Southland.
Ramirez never seemed to live up to those expectations. In 28 regular season appearances Ramirez managed just one goal. The goal came from the penalty spot, an opportunity gifted to him by Landon Donovan, against Colorado in a game that was already well in hand for the Galaxy. Even that wasn't easy enough as Ramirez banged his shot off the post, then saw the rebound carom away from the goal, hit Colorado goalie Joe Cannon in the back, then trickled in across the line.
His leadership on the field never developed either. In last summer's Gold Cup, while playing for Guatemala, Ramirez was sent off after allegedly striking a referee following a foul that was called against him. The low point in his Galaxy season occurred late in the summer when Ramirez was substituted for early in the first half, not because of injury, but for not tracking back and playing defense.
What exactly went wrong is hard to say, but during the offseason, when the Galaxy had the right to exercise the option on Ramirez's contract, they chose not to do so.
"We made an offer to him (Ramirez) and his representatives and they haven't accepted it yet," Galaxy general manager Doug Hamilton said on Wednesday night.
And to the likelihood of the MLS Cup hero returning?
"It's not looking very good," Hamilton said. "We made an offer based on the value we think he brings our club. We'd like to have him back at the right number -- not just at any number."
So with Ramirez all but out of the picture in Los Angeles, the question becomes who fills in on the left side of midfield for the Galaxy. Memo Gonzalez got his chance against the South Korea national team Wednesday in the Galaxy's 3-0 defeat, but by all accounts in the Galaxy camp, the position is still wide open.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
