This is Part 15 in a series of articles on the players that make up the 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy.

In the game of soccer, the job of a center-back is to stop opposing players, particularly the strikers, from scoring and to bring the ball out from their penalty area.

Besides having a good jumping, heading, and tackling ability, successful center-backs need to be able to concentrate, read the game well, and be brave and decisive in making last-ditch tackles on attacking players who might otherwise be through on goal.

One example of a successful center-back is Gregg Berhalter, one of the four towers that comprise the Los Angeles Galaxy backline.

Berhalter's leadership has allowed him to don the captain's armband for Bruce Arena's club when Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle are out on safari at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. His years of footballing experience have led him to play in the Netherlands, in England, and in Germany before joining Major League Soccer.

Gergg Berhalter was born on Aug. 1, 1973, in Englewood, New Jersey. Englewood is a small town of 26,203 located in Bergen County, outside of New York City. Englewood got its name from the first primarily English-speaking settlement on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River in former New Netherland after the annexation of New Netherland by England in 1664.

A local high school lays claim to being the place where one of the great coaches in American football started his career. Vince Lombardi began his career with the Saints of St. Cecelia High School.

Many current and former residents claim Englewood as their home including figure skater Dick Button, actor David Cassidy, singer Tony Bennett, jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, aviator Charles Lindbergh, singer Wilson Pickett, the Reverend Al Sharpton, The Jungle author Upton Sinclair, rapper group Sugarhill Gang, actor John Travolta, and actress Brooke Shields.

Berhalter began his career with the North Carolina Tar Heels. In 58 career appearances, he scored 13 goals and added ten assists.

As a junior, he set career highs with seven goals and six assists. He earned First Team All-ACC and Third Team All-American honors in 1992 and 1993.

Eventually Berhalter would forgo his senior season to turn pro, but not before helping North Carolina reach the NCAA Tournament in 1991 and 1993. For his efforts, Berhalter would be named as one of the top 50 players in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2002.

Berhalter spent one season with the Raleigh Express of the USL First Division (then named the USISL) before signing with the Bluefingers of FC Zwolle of the Dutch Eerste Divisie (First Division) in 1994. He made 37 appearances for Zwolle, scoring twice, before moving on to Sparta Rotterdam of the Eredivisie.

However, Berhalter never received the time he wanted, managing just 10 apperances for the Kasteelheren (Lords of the Castle) in two seasons with Sparta. After the 1997-98 season, Berhalter signed with current Eerste Divisie side SC Cambuur Leeuwarden, who were in the Eredivisie at the time. A regular on defense, Berhalter made 56 appearances for the club, with two goals.

After the 1999-2000 season Cambuur was relegated to the Eerste Divisie, and Berhalter left the club on a free transfer to join Football League Championship side Crystal Palace, joined by current Galaxy teammate Jovan Kirovski.

He appeared 19 times on defense for the Eagles, scoring his one goal against Bradford City on Dec. 29, 2001. With Berhalter's help on the back line, the Eagles were saved from the drop on the final day of the season.

Now it was off to Germany, where Berhalter signed with current 2. Fußball-Bundesliga side FC Energie Cottbus, where he became a fixture in the back.

During his four seasons, he made 111 appearances for Energie. Berhalter also earned team captain honors his final two years, helping them achieve promotion to the Fußball-Bundesliga in 2006.

Berhalter wrapped up his career in Germany with TSV 1860 Munich of the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga, scoring nine goals in 73 appearances for Die Löwen (The Lions). In 2009, he mutually agreed to have his contract terminated to join Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and the Los Angeles Galaxy on April 3.

Berhalter made his MLS debut on April 11, 2009 in a US Open Cup play-in game against the Colorado Rapids. His physical, aggressive style of play drew earned him a red card in the 79th minute, making him the first ever Galaxy player, and the seventh MLS player in history, to be dismissed in his debut. Berhalter also incurred another ejection on May 30 in a 1-1 draw with the Kansas City Wizards.

Otherwise, Berhalter was present for the full 90 minutes on defense and helped the Galaxy maintain a club-record 12 shutouts and 31 fewer goals than in 2008. In 2,298 minutes of action, he committed 41 fouls and suffered 29.

Berhalter was one of three players who played every minute of the Galaxy's postseason matches, scoring a game-winner in the 103rd minute of the MLS Western Conference Championship against the Houston Dynamo.

During the 2009 MLS Cup, Berhalter not only played all 120 minutes, but he also converted his penalty attempt in the shootout against Real Salt Lake.

As a member of the U.S. National Team, Berhalter made 43 appearances and was named to the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup sides. Berhalter earned his first cap for the U.S. national team on Oct. 15, 1994, against Saudi Arabia.

Now, as the 2010 season starts its course, defending still boils down to those simple intangibles: concentrate, read the game well, and show courage in making last-ditch tackles on opposing attackers.

Combine the toughness, aggressiveness, and leadership that only the Galaxy can get from the No. 16, and you get Gregg Berhalter, a reliable footballer that will look to bring Los Angeles back to the big stage once more.

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