Galaxy and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts are happily reunited
Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts throws the ball to a teammate during the second half of a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Aug. 9.
Money was the reason why the Galaxy was unable to keep goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts during his first tenure with the club. Now, as fate would have it, money turned out to be the reason why L.A. was able to bring the goalkeeper back for a second go-round.
As Ricketts and Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena view things, soccer is one part of the game and finances are another part.
Ricketts and Arena are both happy to be reunited, as their focus turned to the game against the Montreal Impact on Saturday night at StubHub Center in an important Major League Soccer contest for both teams.
“First of all, I never wanted to lose him,” Arena said. “But sometimes economics take over and he felt a move out of here would be better for him on his family side at the time.”
Ricketts, a former Jamaican national team captain, first played for the Galaxy in 2009, winning the MLS keeper of the year in 2010.
But in 2011, the Galaxy couldn’t provide Ricketts a raise because it could not fit him under the league salary cap. So the Galaxy traded Ricketts to Montreal in November of that year.
Montreal then traded Ricketts to Portland, where he was again named MLS’ top goalkeeper in 2013 after allowing less than one goal per game for the Timbers.
Ricketts was on the move again when Orlando City picked him first overall in the expansion draft last December.
Though he started the first 10 matches for Orlando City, Ricketts lost his job when regular keeper Tally Hall returned from an injury.
The Galaxy reacquired Ricketts in July for a second-round draft pick. The team needed him because starting Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo of Panama had contract issues he wasn’t able to resolve.
Penedo had gotten the Galaxy to rework his deal in February, but the team refused to rework his deal a second time. So when he asked to be released, Arena granted Penedo’s wish.
A few hours later, the Galaxy had completed the deal for Ricketts.
“It’s good to be back because it’s a great organization, a great and fantastic coaching staff,” Ricketts said. “My first time here, I think it was successful, so hopefully I make it the second time the same thing. “
Ricketts, 38, and the Galaxy needed a victory over the Impact to claim first place in the West. Montreal was trying to hold onto its sixth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
“When Donovan was a part of the re-entry draft last year, we were interested in getting him and we weren’t able to do it,” Arena said. “But when Jaime Penedo chose to leave, there was no question in my mind that Donovan was our target.”
Twitter:@BA_Turner
