CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy Academy expanded their footprint in Southern California with their recent affiliation with new alliance club LA Galaxy San Diego (formerly Carlsbad United F.C.) but one alumnus is already making waves within the club’s setup.
Rey Ortiz, an LA Galaxy Academy starlet and rising talent on USL affiliate LA Galaxy II, is one of the most exciting prospects in the club’s youth system, and a former member of the new LA alliance club. San Diego is the Galaxy’s fourth affiliate club joining LA Galaxy South Bay, LA Galaxy Bakersfield, and LA Galaxy Conejo Valley.
For Galaxy Technical director Jovan Kirovski, partnering up with LA Galaxy San Diego to bring more talents like Ortiz will be a major boost to the club’s academy.
“This opens up our player pool so that we can have direct contact and relationships with a club like LA Galaxy San Diego,” the Escondido native said. “It’s fantastic because we can keep tabs on young players like Rey, who is a perfect example of a kid who grew up in that system before coming to us, and excelling. Whether he makes it at the professional level or not, these are the type of quality kids that we can get from our alliance clubs.
Ortiz spent seven years of his youth development within the Carlsbad academy setup before joining the Galaxy in 2013.
“The training facilities are very good; the coaches are involved, as are the parents. The trainings are run well, and it’s a good club to be in,” said Ortiz. “It’s really important to have the Galaxy involved because there are a lot of good talent down south but not a lot of scouts to bring them to good teams and good academies.”
Since arriving with the Galaxy, Ortiz has quickly solidified himself as one brightest talents in the club’s Academy. A key member of the Galaxy’s Under-16 U.S. Soccer 2013-2014 Development Academy Championship-winning team, Ortiz notched 12 goals in 24 appearances in his first year with the Academy.
The teenager was voted to the U17/18 Best XI with eight goals in 36 appearances for the club. Ortiz has translated his success with the Academy into minutes with Los Dos where he has tallied an assist in two appearances.
After rising through the ranks with Carlsbad as a youngster, the teenager is hopeful of establishing himself at the professional level with the Galaxy.
“It’s challenging for me going from club soccer to a competitive academy, and now to the next level with Galaxy II,” he said. “It’s a great jump for me, but it is hard and I need to keep working hard. The Galaxy is where my future lies.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
