Carlos Vela celebrates LAFC title win: “Here is the f**king trophy”

As expected, Carlos Vela revelled in winning the MLS Cup 2022 with LAFC and didn’t hesitate in celebrating the moment in style. The captain of the Black & Gold has been the cornerstone of the project from the moment the Los Angeles franchise was created, helping it to continue growing in North American’s top league.

On Sunday night, the squad and coaching staff took to the stage to celebrate their first MLS Cup triumph with the fans at the Banc of California Stadium. Vela addressed the fans and reminded them of a promise he made when he landed in Los Angeles at the beginning of 2018, following his experience in Spain at Real Sociedad.

Vela took the microphone accompanied by his eldest son and in the midst of shouting ‘Mexico, Mexico!’ he spoke to the crowd in Spanish: “I remember the first day I arrived here in Los Angeles and I was here, I promised you that we were going to do something big, that we were going to be champions. It took me five years, sorry it took so long, but here is the f**king trophy!”

Fans immediately responded by chanting his name. While he did well during his time in England and Spain, Vela won his first major cup at club level this weekend - the first domestic trophy in 16 years as a professional, to add to the others in his collection - the Under-17 World Cup and the two Gold Cups he won with Mexico.

The 33-year-old concluded: “And the best is yet to come, it is the first of many. I think everyone is tired of listening to the people (players), let’s get the party started!”. The Bomberis under contract until the end of the 2023 campaign and will seek to successfully defend the MLS Cup title next year, and fight for the CONCACAF Champions League.