CARSON, Calif. – Dan Gargan enjoyed his finest season as a pro last year after making the LA Galaxy roster following a preseason trial, and he's aiming for more of the same in 2015.
The 32-year-old journeyman defender was a breakout performer for the Galaxy in 2014, reaching career highs in games played (29), starts (27), minutes (2,400) and assists (5), then playing in all five postseason games as LA claimed their third MLS Cup title in four games.
He re-signed with the club before preseason camp opened last week and, after conceding the starting job at right back to A.J. DeLaGarza for most of the playoffs, aims to make the position his.
“We have a lot of good defenders and a lot of good players,” said Gargan, who figures to contend with DeLaGarza (who can play in any of the four backline slots) and Oscar Sorto (fresh off his first US national team camp) for playing time on the right. “It's no different than last year, so I approach every day with the mindset of trying to be the best I can be and continue to improve and get better and work on little things that I know are deficiencies in my game and better the things that I think I do well.”
His ability to attack the right flank was critical last year for the Galaxy, who seem to prefer DeLaGarza in the center and had lost attacking right back Sean Franklin to D.C. United in the re-entry process at the end of 2013.
Gargan, who spent time with Colorado, Chivas USA, Toronto FC, Chicago and San Jose before arriving in the Galaxy's camp as a non-roster player a year ago, says he never had more fun playing soccer.
“I enjoyed myself,” he said. “There's so many storylines, when you look back on the 2014 season. We really came together and enjoyed ourselves on and off the field, and I think you could see that anywhere you looked. Anybody that was around the team knows that everybody genuinely enjoyed spending time together and playing together, and there was a real kind of camaraderie and brotherhood around the group.
“It's my first championship, so it's something that I'll never forget.”
- Get more LA news at LAGalaxy.com
It presented him in a different context than at previous stops in his career. He said it allowed him to prosper in “an environment that I really felt comfortable in, and I was able to flourish.”
“I think there's a lot of extenuating circumstances around a player's career, and mine's no different,” said Gargan, who left the game for a year in 2008-09, right after signing with Chivas USA, for personal reasons. “I played for a number of different coaches and [in] a number of different styles and had issues with contracts and new front offices and, you know, a lot of things you deal with in a career. Some players are fortunate to start their careers with the Galaxy. Some players aren't as fortunate. You start your career or move on in different places. You do what you can with those.
“And I think that the opportunity that Bruce [Arena, Galaxy head coach and general manager] gave me last year was massive for me. And I kind of sought it out because I knew that if I was able to be given a chance here and to kind of express myself I felt I could really contribute and be a big part. I was happy to make that a reality.”
