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 Biography: Alexi Lalas is the President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy Soccer club. Lalas, who played for the Galaxy from 2001-2003, returns to the club as their top executive and will oversee all business and soccer operations. He spent the last year as President and General Manager of the New York Red Bulls (formerly the MetroStars) following serving as General Manager of the San Jose Earthquakes from 2004-2005. Lalas spent three seasons as a player with the Galaxy during which he won the 2002 MLS Cup, the 2001 U.S. Open Cup and the 2000 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Following his retirement in 2003, Lalas was named President and General Manager of the San Jose Earthquakes before moving to the New York Red Bulls in June, 2005. Lalas went to the Red Bulls from the Earthquakes, where he oversaw all business and soccer operations as the club's President and General Manager since January 27, 2004. During his first year as the team's President and General Manager in 2004, the 'Quakes enjoyed a 24 percent boost in overall attendance and a 70 percent increase in group ticket sales from the 2003 season. In 2005, he built on the significant progress he made in '04 and continued to establish relationships with key members of the San Jose political, business and public communities. Lalas joined the Earthquakes after an outstanding soccer career that began with his first cap on the U.S. national team in 1991. An Olympian in 1992 and 1996, Lalas was a member of the United States' 1994 and 1998 World Cup teams and in 1995 he was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. On the international club level, Lalas became the only American player ever to play in Italy's Serie A, as he signed with Padova in 1994 and scored three goals during the 1994-1995 seasons. Lalas has long been one of the leading figures and most familiar faces in United States soccer and he cemented his place in MLS history by making five all-star appearances during his seven-year career and garnering MLS Best XI honors in 2002. His MLS career began with the New England Revolution, who Lalas played with for two seasons and then moved on to the MetroStars in 1998. He spent one season with the Kansas City Wizards in 1999 before retiring for the 2000 season. However, he returned to MLS in 2001 and appeared in 59 games for the Galaxy over the next three years, capturing three championship titles. Lalas served as the Quakes color commentator during the 2000 season and has served as a soccer announcer for NBC, ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. He also sits on the Board of Advisors for the U.S. Soccer Federation's Grants Committee and the Athletes Council. Lalas served on the Board of Advisors for the FIFA Women's World Cup and in 2004 he joined the national advisory board for the Positive Coaching Alliance. |
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