Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/494191
21 A member of the Galaxy staff since the team's inaugural season in 1996, Raul Vargas enters his 20th season as the club's equipment manager. One of the longest tenured employees with the Galaxy and in all of MLS, Vargas was honored in 2008 as the MLS Equipment Manager of the Year. His numerous responsibilities include the ordering and maintaining of game uniforms, practice gear and equipment, making certain these items are ready to go when the players are, wherever in the world the team may be playing. A native of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, Vargas is the only member of the team staff to have been a part of all gour of the club's MLS Cup titles, as well as the 2001 and 2005 U.S. Open Cup titles and the 2000 CONCACAF Champions Cup. In addition to his work with the Galaxy, Vargas has long been involved in the sport of soccer in Southern California. A former goalkeeper, he spent several years playing in various local leagues in Los Angeles County as well as playing for five-time Lincoln League champion Deportivo Obrera and for Cobras of the Olympic Soccer League. A native of Long Beach, Calif., Rafael Verdin is in his fifth season with the Galaxy as the club's Equipment Coordinator. Verdin, who originally joined the club in May 2010, assists Galaxy Equipment Manager Raul Vargas in his daily tasks while also handling most equipment related tasks during the club's training sessions at StubHub Center. He is also in charge of organizing the player's uniforms for games and daily training sessions. Verdin graduated from Millikan High School in Long Beach, where he played four years of soccer, in 2009. In addition to his work with the Galaxy, Verdin is currently a student at Long Beach City College. He played one year of college soccer at Cypress College before joining the Galaxy on a permanent basis. RAUL VARGAS - EQUIPMENT MANAGER RAFAEL VERDIN - EQUIPMENT COORDINATOR