LA Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza has called his 200th career appearance for the club "an incredible feat" and says he's looking forward to making many more.
DeLaGarza joined franchise greats Cobi Jones, Landon Donovan, Kevin Hartman and Mauricio Cienfuegos as the only players to reach the milestone in the Galaxy's 2-1 defeat of Columbus Crew SC on Saturday.
"It means I've been here a long time. It's an honor to be at the same club for a long time and to be at a club so established as the Galaxy who are the best franchise in MLS," DeLaGarza said on Monday.
Honored to have put this jersey on for my 200th regular season appearance tonight. ���� pic.twitter.com/cUlgDuVxqY
- AJ DeLaGarza (@AJD_20) September 4, 2016
"It's an incredible feat. I can be proud of that, and I now look forward to appearance 201, 202, and keep it going as long as I can."
The timing the achievement, however, could have been better timed for the DeLaGarza family. DeLaGarza's son Luca died due to complications of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome two years ago last weekend.
The Galaxy helped celebrate Luca's life with a week of tributes leading up to DeLGarza's accomplishment on the field.
"I would have liked for it to happen last week, but it's good," DeLaGarza said.
"It was a special week in my life and to cap it off with being captain, my 200th game, and most importantly, a win was big. Going into September, we need to start going on a roll."
The Galaxy will next face Real Salt Lake in Utah on Wednesday, Sept. 7.