Updated August 4, 2022
A.J. DeLaGARZA AT A GLANCE
MLS CAREER: Signed by New England as a free agent on Jan. 7, 2021...Career totals include 279 appearances with 266 starts, two goals, nine assists and 23,404 minutes played over 14 seasons with New England, LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo and Inter Miami CF…Three-time MLS Cup Champion and Supporters’ Shield winner…Ranks among top-20 active MLS players in games played, games started, and minutes played…Has exceeded 20 games played and 20 starts in nine of previous 13 seasons…Owns an additional 17 appearances, including 14 starts, and two assists in the MLS Cup Playoffs…Has also played in 10 U.S. Open Cup games…Selected 19th overall by the LA Galaxy in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft…Appeared in 204 matches, including 196 starts, with two goals and four assists in 17,249 minutes played with the LA Galaxy from 2009-2016, helping the club win MLS Cup titles in 2011, 2012, and 2014, and back-to-back Supporters’ Shields (2010, 2011)…Two-time Galaxy Defender of the Year (2012 and 2014)…As a rookie, started 21 of 22 appearances, scored one goal, and tallied one assist…Made 17 appearances, 14 of them starts, and scored one goal in 2010…Registered career highs in appearances (30) and starts (30), and played 2,627 minutes in 2011…Matched personal bests in appearances (30) and starts (30) in 2012…In 2013, started all 28 appearances…Started 28 of 29 appearances in 2014, earning club Defender of the Year honors for second time…Appeared in 24 matches, including 22 starts, and tallied one assist in 2015…Registered 24 appearances in 2016, marking sixth consecutive season with at least 20 appearances…Joined the Houston Dynamo via trade prior to the 2017 season…Tallied 57 appearances, all of them starts, and four assists over 4,978 minutes played with the Dynamo from 2017-19…Started 30 matches and recorded a career-high three assists in 2017…Played in four games, all starts, in 2018 after returning from a knee injury…In 2019, started all 23 appearances and tallied one assist…Joined Inter Miami CF via free agency for the club’s inaugural campaign in 2020…Started five times during the 2020 season… Made 10 appearances, including five starts, with 504 minutes played in first season with the Revolution in 2021.
2022: Has appeared in three league matches, all starts…(3/12) vs. RSL: Started and posted a full 90-minute outing in his season debut...(5/25) at NYC: Started and played all 120 minutes at both outside back and center back in U.S. Open Cup action...(6/19) vs. MIN: Made second league appearance of the season, a full 90-minute effort...(6/26) at VAN: Started for the second straight week, playing 66 minutes.
2021: Signed with New England as a free agent on Jan. 7, 2021…Made 10 appearances and five starts, with one assist over 504 minutes played…(4/24) vs. DC: Made Revolution debut as a substitute and played 36 minutes in 1-0 win…(7/21) at MIA: Recorded first start with New England and helped team to a clean sheet in 5-0 away win…(7/31) at NY: Logged second start of the season in 3-2 away win…Played all 90 minutes…(8/14) at TOR: Appeared as a substitute in the 2-1 away victory…(8/18) vs. DC: Collected first assist of the season…(9/22) at CHI: Started in the 3-2 win…(10/24) at ORL: Started and played 64 minutes in the 2-2 draw on the road…Playoffs: (11/30) vs. NYC: Was available off the bench in the 2-2 draw in the Eastern Conference Semifinal.
2020 (with Inter Miami CF): Played in five matches, all of them starts, in the expansion club’s inaugural season…Also started Inter Miami’s first-ever MLS Cup Playoff match…(10/3) at NYC: Made club debut with a 67-minute outing…(10/7) at NYRB: Collected second straight start and submitted first 90-minute appearance of the season in 2-1 victory…(11/8) vs. CIN: Closed regular season with fourth consecutive 90-minute shift…Postseason: (11/20) at NSH: Played 90 minutes in Miami’s first playoff game.
2019 (with Houston Dynamo): Started 23 league games and recorded one assist…Marked ninth season with at least 20 starts and appearances…(3/9) vs. MTL: Started and played 90 minutes in 2-1 win in season opener…(6/1) vs. KC: Registered 250th MLS appearance…Assisted Alberth Elis’ game-tying goal in the 1-1 draw…(8/3) vs. CHI: Logged 250th start in MLS…Played 86 minutes in the 1-0 loss.
2018 (with Houston Dynamo): Limited to four appearances, all starts, in returning from a torn ACL…Missed the first 29 matches of the season…Part of the U.S. Open Cup-winning squad, as he was available on the bench for the club’s 3-0 win over Philadelphia in the U.S. Open Cup Final…(9/29) at SJ: Returned to action with a 90-minute start after missing the first 29 matches of the season…(10/28) at LA: Closed season with fourth consecutive 90-minute performance.
2017 (with Houston Dynamo): Made 30 appearances, all starts, and collected a career-best three assists over 2,623 minutes played…Matched personal highs in appearances and starts…Tallied over 2,000 minutes played for the second consecutive season and sixth time in MLS…Suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the regular season finale and missed the MLS Cup Playoffs…(3/4) vs. SEA: Made Houston debut with a 90-minute performance in 2-1 win in season opener…(4/1) vs. NYR: Started and played 90 minutes in 4-1 win…Marked 200th MLS start…(5/6) vs. ORL: Tallied one assist and one shot over 90 minutes of action in 4-0 win…(7/1) at COL: Tallied second assist of the season and one shot in 90-minute shift in 3-1 defeat…(9/27) vs. LA: Registered career-best third assist in 3-3 draw…(10/22) vs. CHI: Played 13 minutes before exiting the match with a knee injury.
2016 (with LA Galaxy): Made 24 appearances, including 23 starts, and played 2,064 minutes…Anchored a Galaxy defense that allowed the second-fewest goals in MLS…Helped the Galaxy to the postseason for the fourth consecutive year but did not feature in any of the three matches in the MLS Cup Playoffs…(3/6) vs. DC: Opened the season with a 90-minute start in 4-1 win…(4/15) at HOU: Logged one shot on goal and played 90 minutes in 4-1 win…(9/3) vs. CLB: Collected 200th appearance in MLS and played 90 minutes in 2-1 win…Became fifth player in Galaxy history to reach the milestone…(10/1) at DAL: Returned to the Starting XI and played 77 minutes in 1-0 defeat…(10/23) vs. DAL: Closed the regular season with a 90-minute performance in 0-0 draw.
2015 (with LA Galaxy): Appeared in 24 matches, including 22 starts, and recorded one assist…Helped the club to third straight appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs…Made one additional start in the playoffs…(3/6) vs. CHI: Posted a seven-minute shift off the bench in 2-0 win in season opener…(3/28) at DC: Made first start of the season and played the full 90 minutes in 1-0 loss…(8/9) vs. SEA: Logged first assist of the season in 3-1 win…Postseason: (10/28) at SEA: Played 83 minutes and logged one shot in 3-2 Knockout Round defeat.
2014 (with LA Galaxy): Appeared in 29 matches, including 28 starts, and tallied two assists over 2,491 minutes played…Saw time at every defensive position for a Galaxy back line that allowed an MLS-low 35 goals…Named LA Galaxy Defender of the Year for the second time in three years…Appeared in four matches, all of them starts, in the MLS Cup Playoffs, helping the Galaxy to their third MLS Cup title in four seasons with a 2-1 victory over New England in the MLS Cup Final…(3/8) vs. RSL: Started and played all 90 minutes in 1-0 loss in season opener… Named MLS Humanitarian of the Year…(3/22) at RSL: Started and played 72 minutes in 1-1 draw…(6/8) vs. CHV: Registered a 90-minute shift for the ninth consecutive match in 1-1 draw…(8/27) vs. DC: Recorded first assist of the season and submitted a 90-minute outing in 4-1 win…(9/14) at SJ: Registered 150th appearance in MLS and played all 90 minutes in 1-1 draw…(10/4) vs. TOR: Logged second assist of the season in a 90-minute effort in 3-0 win…Postseason: (11/1) at RSL: Posted a 90-minute outing in scoreless draw…(11/9) vs. RSL: Recorded one assist in the 5-0 clean-sheet performance…(11/23) vs. SEA: Helped Galaxy post a third straight postseason shutout…(12/7) vs. NE: Played all 120 minutes in MLS Cup, securing third league title in first six years.
2013 (with LA Galaxy): Started all 28 appearances…Featured twice in the MLS Cup Playoffs…Made five Concacaf Champions League appearances, all starts…Scored debut goal in the tournament in the 28th minute with a right-footed strike in the Champions League Semifinals against CF Monterrey…(3/3) vs. CHI: Made 100th appearance in 4-0 shutout victory in season opener…(5/15) at PHI: Recorded one shot on goal over 90 minutes in 4-1 win…(6/29) at SJ: Logged 17th consecutive full 90-minute performance in 3-2 loss…Postseason: (11/7) at RSL: Made second substitute appearance of the postseason.
2012 (with LA Galaxy): Named Galaxy Defender of the Year after matching career highs in appearances (30), starts (30)…Set a personal-best in minutes played (2,644)…Helped Galaxy to a seven-game win streak from Aug. 25 - Sept. 30…Suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sept. 30 and did not feature in the MLS Cup Playoffs as the club won its second MLS Cup title…(3/10) vs. RSL: Opened fourth MLS campaign with 90-minute performance in 3-1 defeat…(3/18) vs. DC: Submitted a second straight 90-minute shift in team’s first win of the season, a 3-1 victory…(9/22) vs. TOR: Collected 29th consecutive 90-minute effort in 4-2 win…(9/30) at COL: Exited the match in the 35th minute after suffering a season-ending knee injury.
2011 (with LA Galaxy): Collected 20 clean sheets in 42 appearances across all competitions, including the MLS Cup Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup and Concacaf Champions League…Started all 30 appearances, logging career highs in starts and games played in the regular season…Played 2,627 minutes in league action, second most on the team...Started all four of the club’s matches and played 360 minutes in the MLS Cup Playoffs, including 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup Final...Won the Supporters’ Shield for the second straight season…(3/15) at SEA: Started and played all 90 minutes in 1-0 win in the regular-season opener…(5/12) vs. CHV: Collected 50th appearance in MLS and played all 90 minutes in 1-0 shutout victory…(6/25) at SJ: Submitted a 90-minute shift with one shot in 0-0 draw…Postseason: (10/30) at NY: Helped Galaxy to 1-0 clean-sheet win…(11/6) vs. RSL: Started in the Western Conference Final…(11/20) vs. HOU: Lifted MLS Cup trophy after 1-0 shutout victory…Marked seventh consecutive 90-minute outing in the playoffs.
2010 (with LA Galaxy): Posted 17 appearances, including 14 starts, and scored one goal…Assisted the club to eight clean sheets in 17 games played…Helped Galaxy win the Supporters’ Shield for third time in club history…Made three full 90-minute starts in the MLS Cup Playoffs…Featured at left back, center back and right back…(4/10) at HOU: Recorded first start of season in 2-0 shutout win…(5/1) vs. PHI: Started and scored second goal of MLS career, a first-minute tally, in 3-1 win…(10/24) vs. DAL: Started and played all 90 minutes in the regular season finale…Postseason: (10/31) at SEA: Posted clean-sheet performance in 1-0 win…(11/14) vs. DAL: Played 90 minutes in third straight playoff appearance.
2009 (with LA Galaxy): Started 21 of 22 matches, scored one goal, and logged one assist in debut MLS campaign…Helped the Galaxy defense set a then-club record for clean sheets in a single season (12)…Made two additional appearances in the postseason, including one start, and helped the Galaxy reach MLS Cup...(3/22) vs. DC: Made MLS debut in 1-1 draw…(6/13) vs. RSL: Collected fourth consecutive full 90-minute shift in 2-0 loss…(7/11) vs. CHV: Registered first career assist on Edson Buddle’s game-winning goal in 1-0 victory…(9/12) vs. DAL: Scored first MLS goal…Postseason: (11/13) vs. HOU: Made MLS Cup Playoffs debut, replacing the injured Todd Dunivant for the Western Conference Championship against Houston…Played all 120 minutes in 2-0 win…(11/22) vs. RSL: Saw 31 minutes of action off the bench in MLS Cup Final, a defeat in penalty kicks.
NATIONAL TEAM CAREER (United States and Guam): Capped twice by the United States and earned 14 caps for Guam before retirement from international soccer in 2020...Made two appearances for the United States in friendlies with Venezuela and Panama in 2012…Switched allegiance to ancestral Guam in 2013…Made first appearance for the island nation on Nov. 16, 2013 in a 1-1 draw in a friendly with Laos…Played in 2-1 victory over Taiwan on Nov. 23, 2014 in the East Asian Cup…Appeared in Guam’s first-ever World Cup Qualifier victories, a 1-0 shutout over Turkmenistan on June 11, 2015 and a 2-1 win over India five days later…In total, tallied eight appearances for Guam in the Asian World Cup Qualifiers…Announced retirement from international competition on April 20, 2020.
COLLEGE CAREER (Maryland): Spent four seasons at the University of Maryland from 2005-08, where he helped the Terrapins to two National Championships (2005, 2008) and one ACC Championship (2008)…Started 81 of 88 games across four seasons…Helped Maryland reach the NCAA Tournament in all for seasons…Started 13 matches as a freshman in 2005…Logged a start in central defense in Maryland’s 1-0 shutout over New Mexico in the College Cup title game…Started all 21 matches as a sophomore in 2006…One of just four Terrapins to start all 21 games as a junior in 2007, helping guide a Maryland defense that finished fourth in the ACC in goals allowed (23) and goals against average (1.01)…Started all 26 matches as a senior in 2008, helping Maryland to a National Championship and an ACC Championship, while earning College Cup All-Tournament Team and Second Team All-ACC selections and being named Maryland’s co-Most Valuable Defensive Player.
PERSONAL: Full name is Adolph Joseph DeLaGarza, but goes by A.J. …Named the 2014 MLS Humanitarian of the year for work with the #LucaKnowsHeart campaign, which he started after he and his wife lost their newborn son to complications from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart defect…Is of Native-American heritage through his mother and Mexican and Chamorro heritage through his father…One of two children, with sister Tabatha…Majored in criminology at Maryland.
