By Iman Sadri
February 13, 2018
Steven Beitashour is back in Cali. The former MLS All-Star and reigning MLS champion with Toronto FC signed with the MLS expansion team Los Angeles FC last month.
Beitashour is a California native, born in San Jose and raised in the Bay Area. He then played soccer at San Jose State and even played for the San Jose Earthquakes from 2010-2013 after college.
After stints with Vancouver and Toronto, he is now in L.A. He will continue to play defense, and is expected to draw big crowds. Southern California has an estimated Iranian American population of 500,000 and many will flock to LAFC games to see Beitashour in action.
Beitashour is no stranger to the Iranian fan base having played for Team Melli during the 2014 World Cup. He will now help lead the defense of his newest MLS club, a spot where the Iranian American community hopes he will stay for the remainder of his career.
Beitashour was extremely prolific with Toronto FC and highly underrated at that. He helped lead a defense which was quite stingy and as a result Toronto became MLS champions. Canada’s loss is LAFC’s gain.
Beitashour, 31, will be coached by Bob Bradley, and LAFC will debut their brand new state of the art 22,000 seat Banc of California stadium in April of this year.
Iman Sadri is the founder of The Persian Observer
