You may now associate Carlos Vela as one of the main stars in Major League Soccer, and the proud record holder of most MLS goals in a single season (34).
But Vela has worked hard to get to where he is today, and it's by no coincidence that he is a designated player at Los Angeles FC. The Mexican star began his career at Guadalajara before being picked up by Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, but had to cope with being loaned out several times during his stint in England.
Vela has since spoken about the hardships of living in London, and how he couldn't wait to leave the Premier League club. But his persistence has now paid off, as he has become a hero at LAFC, and they are just three wins away from MLS Cup success.
The Premier League is usually a dream for any footballer, and it likely was for Vela as a youngster. But this dream quickly became a nightmare, as he made just 29 league appearances for Arsenal between 2005-2012.
Vela was loaned to Celta Vigo, Salamanca, Osasuna, West Bromwich Albion and Sociedad during this time, and it was fifth time lucky for the Mexican, as it was in the Basque Country that he initially found his home. In an interview with GQ, Vela opened up on the struggles he faced in England, and revealed how much he wanted to get out of North London.
"The most important part of my life came in San Sebastian: my new family," Vela said. "I came from three years of being in London, which I couldn’t adapt to. I don’t know how to explain it specifically.
"It was a place I don’t have good memories of. I wanted to get out of there." But it was while on loan in Spain that the enjoyment returned.
"There I started to enjoy my football again after three such bad years of living in England," Vela added. "I didn’t know anything about the Basque Country. I wanted to leave so much that when I heard I had a good offer to play and leave England, it was a case of me saying: ‘I love it. Yes, let’s go."
The 33-year-old was always tipped to succeed as a professional, but a stuttering start in London and while on loan meant that doubts started to creep in over his future. In 2012, Vela took the plunge and permanently moved to Real Sociedad, and it transformed his career.
The Mexican starred for the La Liga side for six years, becoming a major part of their attacking threat and partnering the likes of Antoine Griezmann during his stay. Vela had finally found his feet after leaving England, but in 2017, a new opportunity presented itself.
LAFC was formed in 2014, but didn't make their MLS debut until 2018. But of course, when forming a new team, you need a whole roster of players, and Vela seized the opportunity when he was approached.
Vela became LAFC's first designated player in their history, and has been with them ever since, driving them towards MLS glory. There was an element of risk joining a new, unknown team, but it's more than paid off.
The 33-year-old hasn't just become an iconic figure in the early history of the franchise, but he's consistently been one of the best players in the league since 2018. In fact, he was awarded the MLS MVP award in 2019 after a record-breaking year.
Despite only being formed in 2018, LAFC have won two supporters shields, breaking the points record with their first, but the play-offs continue to be a problem. They are yet to claim an MLS Cup, but this season could be the one they have been waiting for.
They face Los Angeles rivals LA Galaxy on Thursday night in the Western Conference semi-finals, and will be full of confidence after winning seven more games that their opposition in the regular season. Austin FC or Dallas FC await in the Conference finals, but Vela won't be thinking about that just yet.
"We have worked hard all season to get to this point," Vela said ahead of their play-off clash. "We know how tough our opponents can be, so we must be at our best."
