Not every player ends up being a superstar for their club. Hell, not every player ends up being a cult hero that fans all clamor for and make chants about and treat as if they are prime Messi. Some players, are with a club, then leave, then slowly become a trivia question answer, like ‘hey remember that time this guy suited up for Los Angeles?’ No disrespect, but sometimes a player is just there, does their job as best they can, and then they leave. Such seems to be the case with now former LAFC midfielder, Englishman Lewis O’Brien.
Midfielder Lewis O’Brien in his first start for the club.#SEAvLAFC | @OpenCup pic.twitter.com/2A3Hdyh0tr
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 29, 2024
O’Brien made 14 appearances for LAFC with 13 starts. The English midfielder hit the ground running once he arrived in Los Angeles, scoring a goal in his first appearance at BMO in a Leagues Cup match. He often times flashed his pace, dribbling, and vision as a set-up man in the attack. He tallied just under 800 minutes for the club, with that Leagues Cup goal being his lone goal on the season.
Lewis finished the season with 89% successful pass percentage on 399 passes, coming away with 18 key passes. While he only scored the single goal, he did also find himself an assist in his time with Los Angeles. Despite being new to the club and there on loan, the midfielder was a consistent force in the midfield for the side, starting all four playoff appearances for Los Angeles.
First Home Match ✔️
First Goal ✔️Lewis O’Brien makes it four!#LAFCvCOL 4-0 pic.twitter.com/BOtysDNgmq
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 22, 2024
Not every player comes away from their time at club being revered and lauded, or amongst the greatest to ever wear the jersey. Not every player finishes their time in a city as a hero amongst the fans. Then again, not every player has to. It’s okay for someone to come into a side and just do their job. Whenever LAFC needed Lewis, he was there giving it his all and then some. His time in the black & gold may not be something to write poems about, but it was far from bad. He came, put in all the shifts asked of him, and at the end of the season the team allowed his loan deal to run out, and he returned to England. No matter what, he will always be a U.S. Open Cup champion, and we will always have that image of hime sliding across the locker room, covered in alcohol, as he celebrated.
Thoughts on O’Brien’s time in Los Angeles? Leave a comment below!