November 21, 2009 HE DID IT HIS WAY Arena uses experience over youth to rebuild the Galaxy into MLS Cup finalists
Bruce Arena is one win away from a championship after rebuilding the Galaxy Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
SEATTLE -- There is no one way to build an MLS team, let alone a league champion.
Former U.S. national and one-time Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena certainly did it his way as he decided to use older players with which he was familiar to rebuild the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Well, Arena hasn't won a championship, at least not yet. But the Galaxy finds itself only one win away from MLS glory as it prepares to play Real Salt Lake in MLS Cup Sunday.
Since last season, Arena has brought in 14 players, several of them who have played for him (sorry former Red Bulls forward Edson Buddle was in L.A. prior to Arena's arrival).
Seven were former Red Bulls or U.S. National Team players. They're average age? A whopping 32-years-old, not exactly the usual game plan to win a league championship.
In alphabetical order:
* Gregg Berhalter -- former U.S. international defender who is 38
* Todd Dunivant -- one-time Red Bulls left fullback who is 28
* Jovan Kirovski -- ex-U.S. international midfielder-forward who is 33
* Eddie Lewis -- former U.S. international midfielder who is 35
* Dema Kovalenko -- ex-Red Bulls midfielder who is 32
* Mike Magee -- one-time Red Bulls midfielder-forward and first-round draft choice who is the baby of the bunch at 24
* Tony Sanneh -- former U.S. international defender who is 38
