Last Saturday, just a week after his arrival from the Colorado Rapids, Cornell Glen made his first start for the Los Angeles Galaxy. For the Trinidad & Tobago international - whose debut in the Green and Gold was nothing short of spectacular, with two goals after the 84th minute giving his new team a victory against Chivas USA - dizzying might be an understatement when talking about his MLS career.
In just three seasons in MLS, Glen has spent time with the MetroStars (now the New York Red Bulls), Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, Colorado Rapids, and now has landed in Los Angeles. For those keeping track, that's nearly half of the teams in MLS since just 2004.
At every stop along the way though, Glen has proven that he can contribute, with 12 goals and six assists in 43 career appearances. But just 24 of those outings were as a starter, and Glen feels that is just one of many reasons why he's had trouble catching on long term with any one club.
"It's a bunch of stuff, it's not just bouncing around the league. There's injury problems, leaving a club to play with the national team then coming back and trying to fit in," said Glen. "I never had a club that wanted to keep me, so I never really settled in a club. I hope I can settle in here."
If Glen's two-goal performance Saturday against Chivas USA is any indication of what he's going to bring to the table with the Galaxy, then Glen should have a future with his newest club. The better his performances are though, the more unlikely it is that Glen will be around this summer.
Glen was just recently named to the Trinidad & Tobago provisional roster for this summer's World Cup. Glen feels that Los Angeles is the right fit for him to show he belongs on his country's final roster when travel plans are being made for Germany.
"I was named to the 24-man provisional squad this week, so being with this team is going to help a lot," he said. "This is a professional organization. The guys here work very hard. Here they want wins. It's great to be here going into the World Cup."
Glen's arrival in Los Angeles couldn't have come at a better time for the 25-year-old forward. The Galaxy have struggled a bit offensively coming out of the gate, and that has opened up playing time for any striker that can find the back of the net.
Glen knows this is his best chance to latch on permanently to a club because unlike past trades he was involved in, this time Glen was pursued by the Galaxy.
"It's good to be with a team that's won a championship. I felt welcomed here from the first day," said Glen. "I know that coach (Sampson) wanted me. I'm comfortable and I'm just going to do my best here to help this team win."