dailyloe.com – On Sunday, Los Angeles Galaxy legend Cobi Jones was honored with a statue outside Dignity Health Sports Park. The unveiling ceremony took place before the Galaxy’s match against Real Salt Lake. The 9-foot-tall bronze statue was created by artists Oscar Leon and Omri Amrany.
This statue is the third dedicated to key figures from the team’s history, following those of Landon Donovan and David Beckham. Jones, who played for the Galaxy from 1996 to 2007, made 334 appearances and scored 70 goals. He was instrumental in leading the team to two MLS Cups in 2002 and 2005.
During the ceremony, Jones expressed pride in showcasing Los Angeles as a prominent soccer city. He stated, “We showed the world that Los Angeles — and the LA Galaxy — this is a soccer hotbed.” He emphasized that the LA Galaxy represents the pinnacle of Major League Soccer.
Born in Detroit and raised in Los Angeles, Jones graduated from Westlake High School and played for UCLA’s men’s soccer team. He represented Team USA in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 FIFA World Cups. In 1998, he was named the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year and earned five MLS All-Star selections.
Jones was also part of the U.S. team that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002. After retiring in 2007, he coached the Galaxy for two seasons and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2011.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber attended the ceremony and remarked on the importance of honoring past legends. He said, “I always believed that you can’t celebrate your future … without properly honoring our past.”
Currently, Jones is a part-owner of Angel City FC in the National Women’s Soccer League. As part of the celebration, the Galaxy introduced a limited-edition merchandise line created in collaboration with Jones, available at the Galaxy Team Store.
