Soccer Stardom | Galindo living out his dream

Maykel Galindo is living his American dream with a uniquely American team.

The native of Cuba, once a Seattle Sounder, returns to his first U.S. home tonight when Chivas USA of Major League Soccer plays an exhibition against Seattle at Qwest Field.

Galindo defected in July 2005, leaving the Cuban national team's hotel while the team was in Seattle for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. His life-changing decision to leave his homeland behind has paid dividends perhaps beyond even his own imagination.

"It was a new city, and I didn't know many people," Galindo said. "It was the most difficult moment of my life."

Life is not so difficult now. Less than two years later, Galindo, a scoring forward for Chivas USA, has acclimated to his new country. He's found success in soccer, from leading the Sounders to a USL First Division championship in 2005, to catching the eye of ex-Chivas coach (now U.S. national team coach) Bob Bradley in a friendly last year at Qwest Field, to a major role with an MLS club with hopes of being a league all-star.

And Chivas USA, an organization on the cutting edge of the international sports scene, seems to be the perfect place for Galindo.

Maybe it's because of how Chivas USA conducts its business. The third-year MLS team is the only pro sports team in the U.S. owned by Mexican nationals — Antonio Cue and Jorge Vergara — and has an automatic fan base because of its association with Mexico's ever-popular Chivas de Guadalajara team, which boasts several million red-and-white striped supporters in the U.S.

"We look for support on that side," said Dennis te Kloese, Chivas USA's director of football. "They're sophisticated soccer fans."

Many Chivas staffers are bilingual, and everything the club does in media relations and marketing is in Spanish and English. The team was originally loaded with Mexican players, but is now stocked with talent from the U.S., Mexico, England, Colombia, France, Brazil and Romania.

Chivas USA also has its own soccer-developmental program. While the Guadalajara team is at the top of the Chivas food chain, the U.S. team is a place where the Mexican club can send players for high-level experience, as it has done with 22-year-old future star Francisco Mendoza. Or, as in the case of Claudio "El Emperador" (The Emperor) Suarez, a place where a Mexican veteran of high stature in his home country can play and attract fans to the team.

Suarez, Mexico's all-time leader in international appearances for the national team with 178, played for three World Cup teams. He and Mendoza are expected to play in Seattle tonight.

Chivas USA has Under-19, U-17, U-16 and U-15 teams at the amateur level and a soccer academy for younger kids. Players participate free of charge at all levels.

"Maybe a majority of our fans are Mexicans," te Kloese said, "but a lot of Anglo fans appreciate what we do in the community. The other team [in Los Angeles, the longer-tenured Galaxy] alienated Latino fans without any Latinos on the roster.

"They have a slogan of 'The Stars Align.' Ours is 'It's In Your Blood.' The Galaxy put all their money in one or two big names, while we rely on community and player development."

Chivas USA also joined the reality-TV revolution earlier this year, when it broadcast open tryouts for the team on Univision, the largest Spanish-language TV network in the U.S. The winner of the tryout earned a spot on the U-19 team.

Galindo, too, is a big winner. After playing for a meager stipend in Cuba, he was one of the two highest-paid Sounders when he signed with them and made an immediate impact with his speed and ability to open up space for his teammates. Meanwhile, he built lasting friendships with Sounders teammates and others. His girlfriend lives in Seattle.

Last year, Galindo suffered a broken nose when he collided with Chivas goalkeeper Preston Burpo, another former Sounder, in the first half of that match. The Sounders got the 2006 match with Chivas USA as part of the payment for losing Burpo, and received the same deal with Chivas USA this season for Galindo.

Though Galindo missed 2-½ months with the injury, his 15 minutes against Chivas USA was enough for the MLS team to show serious interest after the season.

He and Burpo are friends — Galindo said the collision was an accident — but he hopes it doesn't happen again tonight.

"It's going to be beautiful to be back," said Galindo, who is trying to secure a green card for permanent resident status. "I have plenty of great memories. I'm very emotional about it."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com