With the LA Galaxy terminating the loan of Samuel on Thursday, I decided to revisit in an old piece that I initially wrote when Christian Wilhelmsson signed with the club back in 2012.
Samuel and Wilhelmsson were the last players to don the number nine kit for the Galaxy which has a dubious place in Galaxy history due to a history of underperformance. Below is a list of all the Galaxy players to wear the number nine shirt throughout the club’s history and their performances in MLS regular season play…
2014: Forward Samuel with eight league appearances in the regular season and two in the CONCACAF Champions League, scoring one goal and zero assists.
2013: No number nine.
2012: Midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson with nine league appearances in regular season and MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring one goal and one assist.
2012: Forward Chad Barrett with 18 league appearances, scoring one goal and three assists.
2011: Forward Juan Pablo Angel with 22 league appearances, scoring three goals and one assists.
2010: Forward Jovan Kirovski with 21 league appearances, four goals and two assists.
2009: Forward Jovan Kirovski with 22 league appearances, two goals and one assist.
2008: No number nine.
2007: Forward Gavin Glinton with 19 league appearances, four goals and zero assists.
2006: Forward Guillermo Gonzalez made zero league appearances.
2005: Forward Guillermo Gonzalez made zero league appearances.
2004: Forward Guillermo Gonzalez with six league appearances, scoring zero goals and zero assists.
2003: Forward Alex Pineda Chacon made six league appearances, scoring zero goals and zero assists.
2002: Forward Brian Mullan with 21 league appearances, scoring three goals and two assists.
2001: Forward Brian Ching with eight league appearances, scoring one goal and one assist.
2000: Forward Seth George with 14 league appearances, scoring one goal and zero assists.
1999: Defender/Forward Jose Vasquez with zero league appearances.
1998: Forward Jose Botello with two league appearances, scoring zero goals and zero assists.
1997: Goalkeeper Jorge Campos with 19 league appearances, scoring zero goals and two assists.
1996: Goalkeeper Jorge Campos with 24 league appearances, scoring zero goals and one assist.
A few notes: Jovan Kirovski leads all-time scoring of number nine's with six goals and three assists. Meanwhile Gavin Glinton (2007) has scored the most goals over one season with four while Chad Barrett (2012) has tallied the most assists with three. Wilhelmsson will also become the first Galaxy midfielder to don the nine shirt.
As you can see, the Swedish winger will have his work cut out for him in terms of performances, but with an accomplished roster and extensive European and International pedigree, there is no reason that Wilhelmsson can’t become the club's most effective number nine.
