This is Part 15 in a series of players who will play for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012.

A primary reason for the Los Angeles Galaxy's lack of winning form comes from the fact that their defense is not exactly one of the best in all of Major League Soccer.

So how do you try to fix this ongoing issue? It's simple. Just bring in another central defender like David Junior Lopes, formerly of Chivas USA, to plug the hole left by Omar Gonzalez's injury.

A Brazilian with years of experience, Lopes joins fellow countrymen Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas Fazzio as members of the Galaxy for the 2012 season.

David Junior Lopes was born on July 19, 1982, in Maringa, a city located in the state of Parana, Brazil. Maringa is home to two local teams, Grêmio Maringá and Alvorada Clube.

After beginning his career as a youth player for Adap Galo Maringa FC, Lopes broke through the ranks of Clube Atletico Paranaense and made his debut for the team in 2002. His skills playing for the Hurricane were noticed by FC Porto, who assigned him to the reserve side for the 2003-04 season.

Lopes was unable to make the bench, let alone start, for the Porto first XI, so returned to Brazil to play for Iraty Sport Club, a small club that plays in the Campeonato Paranaense.

In 2005, Lopes returned to Europe to sign with NK Osijek, a Croatian outfit. Lopes appeared in 35 league matches for Osijek before transferring to Russian Premier League side Terek Grozny for the 2008 season. Lopes made 14 appearances for Terek

Continuing his journey through Europe, Lopes played for Cordoba CF from 2009-10, making 13 appearances. His last European stint came in the 2010-11 season, where he was signed by Universitatea Craiova, a Romanian club.

However, Craiova were excluded from competing in the Romanian leagues due to misconduct involving  the top brass. This meant that was Lopes was in search of a new club.

Chivas USA was the first to jump at the opportunity and signed Lopes into their team. However, in the 2011-12 season, he only managed eight appearances for the Goats.

This season, Lopes was traded to the LA Galaxy in exchange for Paolo Cardozo. Now with Lopes in  the lineup, a new option in central defense brings promise to an otherwise beleaguered back line.

Journeymen footballers have had several trips across the Atlantic, with varying degrees of success.

David Junior Lopes is no exception. Whether his footballing journey ends in the City of Angels or continues to another footballing destination is up to the sporting gods to decide.

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