LA Galaxy Academy Become Latest MLS Academy To Join UPSL
The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is proud to announce that LA Galaxy Academy U-19 team has joined the league. Based in Carson, California, the club will be part of the UPSL’s highly competitive, SoCal North – Premier Division, and are set to join their MLS rivals LAFC in the same conference. They are the second MLS club that has entered a team into the UPSL California division, sixth overall in the league.
LA Galaxy Academy is operated by the LA Galaxy (MLS) and serves as a developmental tier in the franchise’s academy system.
The Academy program has a strong leadership team in place led by Michael Muñoz who serves as Director of Methodology and Development for the LA Galaxy.
“We are excited to have the LA Galaxy Academy U-19 team join the UPSL SoCal North – Premier Division this upcoming season,” said LA Galaxy Director of Methodology and Development Mike Muñoz. “The UPSL offers a high-level of competition which will allow our players to grow and reach their maximum potential. This is another vital step in our player development pathway that will provide high level games and further help to develop our players.”
UPSL Commissioner, Yan Skwara said “We are thrilled to welcome the LA Galaxy Academy to the UPSL. Their addition further cements our mission to create a platform that showcases and develops players for the next level. It is a great source of pride that the UPSL will be serving such a pivotal role in the club’s player development strategy. In addition, we look forward to hosting the UPSL’s own version of the MLS’s famed rivalry El Trafico.”
LA Galaxy was founded in 1994 and began play in 1996 as one of the league’s 10 charter members. The Galaxy have won the MLS Cup a record five times (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014) , the Supporters’ Shield four times (1998, 2002, 2010, 2011), the U.S. Open Cup twice (2001, 2005) and the CONCACAF Champions League once (2000).
The LA Galaxy Academy make their UPSL regular season debut this Fall on August 27th.
About LA Galaxy
The LA Galaxy are Major League Soccer’s most successful club. Based in Carson, Calif. at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy have won the MLS Cup a record five times (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014), the MLS Supporters’ Shield four times (1998, 2002, 2010, 2011) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup twice (2001, 2005), and one Concacaf Champions Cup (2000) since their inception in 1996. Led by LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney and President Chris Klein, the Galaxy are the premier club in MLS, with stars like Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Giovani dos Santos, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Javier Hernandez and Cobi Jones representing LA over the team’s 27 years in MLS. For more information on the LA Galaxy, visit www.lagalaxy.com.
About LA Galaxy Academy
The LA Galaxy Academy is committed to developing Academy student-athletes as players, students, and human beings, establishing an environment that allows the LA Galaxy Academy student-athletes to develop as scholars and world-class soccer players. Set at the LA Galaxy’s Dignity Health Sports Park campus, the LA Galaxy Academy has enabled students to excel both on the field and in the classroom. On the field, the student-athletes train under the direction of top-level coaches like former LA Galaxy MLS Cup Champions Marcelo Sarvas and Juninho. In the classroom, the student-athletes receive academic instruction from qualified and credentialed teachers in the combination of a physical classroom setting and online curricula under the LA Galaxy Academy School Program. Overseen by the Director of Methodology and Development Mike Munoz, the LA Galaxy Academy consists of teams at six age levels: under 18/19s, under 16/17s, under 15s, under 14s, under 13s and under 12s. The LA Galaxy Academy serves as a development pipeline for the club’s brightest prospects.
About United Premier Soccer League
The UPSL was formed in 2011 and currently includes more than 325 teams nationwide. The UPSL is the largest Pro Development League in North America. Each UPSL team is individually owned and operated. UPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds through the league’s affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF). More information about UPSL can be found at www.staging.upsl.com or by following the league on Facebook (facebook.com/upslsoccer), Instagram (@upslsoccer) and Twitter (@upslsoccer).
Contact UPSL: [email protected] / Media: [email protected]