Hartman Stays With the Galaxy

Kevin Hartman, Major League Soccer’s goalkeeper of the year in 1999, signed a contract Friday that will keep him with the Galaxy for the next four years.

Terms were not disclosed, but Hartman probably will be earning three to four times the league-minimum $24,000 he earned last season.

“If I wasn’t happy with it, I wouldn’t have signed it,” he said. “I’m very excited to finally get it done. It was a very difficult thing for me, considering the various options and weighing them against one another.”

Hartman, 25, had made no secret of wanting to try his luck abroad, perhaps following U.S. national team goalkeepers Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel to Europe.

He said he had “spent a little bit of time with a couple of clubs in Belgium and Holland,” but in the end was persuaded to stay in MLS. The league wanted the four-year contract, whereas he preferred a shorter one, but that was only a minor sticking point.

“I’m not upset about it,” he said. “Obviously, they have to do what they can to keep American players in the league. It’s not something that we really butted heads about.”

Hartman’s 0.91 goals-against average in 1999 set a league record. The former UCLA keeper also shares the MLS record of 29 shutouts with Kansas City Wizard goalkeeper Tony Meola, who has played 30 more games.

“We’re very happy that Kevin signed, especially with the season he had last year,” Coach Sigi Schmid said. “It gives us something to build upon. The defense that set a league record last year stays intact, so that’s good.

“[Backup keeper] Matt Reis is very happy because he would have had to dye his hair [blond, like Hartman’s] if Kevin didn’t come back so that he could sort of make up for Kevin’s antics. He doesn’t have to do that now.”

Hartman, Reis and the rest of the Galaxy will fly to Florida on Sunday to begin a two-week training camp with the 11 other MLS teams.