The Ring of Honor will be unveiled before the Los Angeles Galaxy’s MLS home opener on Sunday night. In the inaugural class, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Cobi Jones and Doug Hamilton will be inducted. Prior to each season, new inductees will be added to this prestigious group of former LA Galaxy players.
At the ceremony before the match, the club will debut signage that is dedicated to the individuals in the Ring. The signs will be displayed throughout StubHub Center.
According to the club, members of the Ring of Honor “will have exemplified the winning tradition of the LA Galaxy, the club’s commitment to the city of Los Angeles and the charge to grow the game of soccer in Los Angeles and Southern California.”
Mauricio Cienfuegos and Cobi Jones were the perfect choices, as far as players go, for the first class. Both men oozed class on and off the field. On the field, the duo were not only two of the best players in the club’s history, but in the league. Together, they won five trophies which included one CONCACAF Champion’s Cup, one U.S. Open Cup and one MLS Cup. And in over 500 combined league appearances, the pair have scored 75 goals.
Currently, both are still working with the team in some capacity. Cienfuegos is a coach in the club’s academy and has been in that role since 2011. Cobi Jones, of course, is a television commentator Time Warner Cable, covering matches throughout the season.
Doug Hamilton, the final inductee, was a big part of the organization and won three straight Executive of the Year Award’s (2003-2005). The award was later renamed the Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year Award. He was at the club the same time that Cienfuegos and Jones were and really took the Galaxy to the next level.
Tragically, Hamilton had a heart attack and died on a plane from San Jose, Costa Rica to Los Angeles after an LA Galaxy CONCACAF Champions League game. He was just 43 years old at the time of his passing.
This is a fantastic thing that the club is doing. Not only is it important to keep looking forward as an organization, but they must remember those who made the organization what it has become today.