USA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Los Angeles Galaxy inundated by 800 candidates trying out to be soccer superstars, attracted by the 'David Beckham factor'

Record ID: 735273

  • Title: USA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Los Angeles Galaxy inundated by 800 candidates trying out to be soccer superstars, attracted by the 'David Beckham factor'
  • Date: 12th February 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS SHOTS OF L.A. GALAXY HOPEFULS PLAYING SOCCER FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF PARTICIPANTS WATCHING AND CLAPPING
  • Embargoed: 27th February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Lifestyle,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABAW89LNY399FPNNSZ2KTRKHJ1
  • Story Text: About 800 hopefuls are giving it their best shot trying to earn a place on the United States soccer team David Beckham will soon call it home.
    This weekend, the Los Angeles Galaxy is holding open trials for all those who think they have the talent to play alongside the 'Galatico' who is leaving Real Madrid at the end of the Spanish season.
    In a soccer equivalent of "American Idol," the Major League Soccer (MLS) club was flooded with more than 1,000 online applications after the event was posted on the www.lagalaxy.com website.
    The high turnout is credited in great part to Beckham's signing a lucrative five-year-deal with the L.A. Galaxy last month as club president and general Manager Alexi Lalas explained on Saturday (February 10).
    "You know, I mean the opportunity to be a professional athlete is a pretty good draw, And the opportunity to play for the Galaxy especially in the current climate now with David Beckham arriving and the fact that this is the premiere team in major league soccer. It's not surprising, it's been wonderful in terms of the positive reaction that we've had, we had thousands of applicants we had to cut it off at a certain point and hopefully there's one player that maybe rises above the rest."
    Galaxy wanna-bes travelled to Los Angeles from many corners of the globe to get the chance to exhibit their athletic skills in one of the 40 soccer matches scheduled.
    Gordon Vujanovic is one of those who has crossed the greatest distance for the unique challenge. "I come from Croatia and of course I come and try out for Galaxy. And that's it. You know, everybody dream about that sign professional contract especially for Galaxy because Beckham in the summer come here. And I think the Galaxy is best team in U.S.A."
    Casey Atkins, who flew in from Portland, Oregon, agrees.
    "Probably for one playing for the MLS and David Beckham is a big draw, But I think most of all people want to play for a major league soccer team, it's their only opportunity so why not."
    Scott Piecha, who came all the way from London, believes soccer in the United States is getting a great boost.
    "I reckon it will be good for soccer as Americans call it. Um, raising the profile of the game a big star come out here. It's kind of like, you know, the likes of Pele and everyone came out years ago. So I suppose it might even bring a new influx of premiereship, ex-premiereship stars or older players coming out here and kind of developing the league, the MLS."
    The open trials cost each player $130 for registration fees, plus travel and lodging expenses.
    Lalas, who starred in the 1994 World Cup staged in his country and once had a rock n'roll band, underscored the impact that Beckham will have on Galaxy's future.
    "You know, I mean, when you sign a player like David Beckham who's, who is so unique in terms of what he brings on the field and off the field, there's really nobody else like him. And we can argue whether he's the best player in the world. But in terms of the attraction and the interest that a player like that brings, coupled with the fact that he's a great player who's played for Real Madrid and Manchester United. This is kind of the perfect storm in a wonderful way and we are certainly using it to our advantage in the short-term. But I've reminded everybody here that there's also a long-term benefit that we need to capitalise on because David Beckham will be an important part of the Galaxy but for a finite time and we want to make sure that we are healthy and successful for many, many years."
    Beckham is scheduled to arrive in Southern California sometime after his contract with Real Madrid expires in June of this year (2007).
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