Daniel Aguirre knew it was time to make a run at professional soccer, even if it meant leaving UC Riverside.
“After three years, I decided not to go back (to school) for my fourth,” he said Tuesday from Columbus. “I went to a combine in Oceanside, the Galaxy II coaches were there, they saw me and invited me to G2. In my first year, I went into preseason with the first team, which was also (Greg Vanney’s) first year.
“I was getting to the age that I needed to be in the league … if it didn’t work out, then I would have returned to college.”
Aguirre, 23, signed to Galaxy II in 2021. He made five appearances for the first team that season and increased to 11 last season. Heading into Wednesday’s game on the road against the Columbus Crew (4:30 p.m., Apple TV+), Aguirre has already played in seven of the Galaxy’s 11 league games.
“He can play almost every position on the field,” Vanney said of Aguirre. “I can use him as fullback, a central midfielder, winger and he helps us in terms of keeping the ball, makes good sound decisions. He’s got a nice composure and calmness about him when he comes on and I think it helps the team to be a little more stable.”
Aguirre’s versatility goes back to his college days at UCR under coach Tim Cupello.
“I started out playing more of an 8 or 10, but I can play various positions,” he said. “In my first year at college, I played 4-5 games as a right back and then I moved back into the midfield, so I can play wherever Greg wants me and I want to take advantage of every opportunity.”
Aguirre got in for 10 minutes in the U.S. Open Cup win over Seattle and around 20 in Sunday’s victory over San Jose. He’s on the path to not only eclipse last season’s total of games (11), but also minutes (368).
“I think he’s continued to grow with each year and each month. He becomes more and more reliable. He’s a guy that I know exactly what I’m going to get when I put him on the field. I’ve used him in different roles,” Vanney said before comparing him with defender Jalen Neal. “He’s a such a mature, calm … he’s like Jalen, so calm in his presence and the way he approaches the game that he tends to make really a lot of good decisions. He has that maturity about him that’s easy to rely on.”
With so many pathways to the professional level, Aguirre wouldn’t have traded in his three years in Riverside. In fact, he needed it.
“I went into college, really skinny and weighing about 135 pounds,” he said. “Physicality is a big part and, throughout college, I was able to put on muscle and weight. I knew my best option was UCR, I wanted to be away from home and get experience.”
Aguirre had a good preseason, but suffered an injury and had to work his way back.
“I was able to get back (from injury) and I’ve been taking the leadership the guys give me and the motivation,” he said. “I went into last season wanting to get more minutes, but it didn’t happen. But I’ve always kept a mindset of when I get an opportunity and whenever it presents itself, I’m going to take full advantage.”
Galaxy at Columbus
When: Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Apple TV+ – MLS Season Pass
