Attend an Austin FC match at Q2 Stadium and you’ll observe plenty of things original to the Verde and Black experience – green rubber chickens and live armadillos come to mind. You’ll also notice a few things adopted from the wider world of top-flight soccer. For example, when Austin FC scores a goal, PA announcer Jeremiah Gallegos will thrice shout the goalscorer’s first name, and the Verde faithful in the stands will thrice reply with the player’s last name. It’s tried and true audience participation, and it sounds great.
Unless, of course, nobody in the stands knows the guy’s name.
That was the case Sunday afternoon when, in the 82nd minute of what had been a tedious goalless affair between ATXFC and D.C. United, the deadlock was broken in favor of the home team by substitute striker Christian Ramirez (or, as it sounded in the stadium, Christian *unintelligible noise*).
Even the most dialed-in Verde supporters might’ve missed Ramirez’s addition to the ATX roster. Mainly because it occurred just 48 hours prior to the club’s second match of the season.
The 34-year-old Southern California native spent the 2025 season with LA Galaxy and expected to do the same in 2026. He even started the Galaxy’s first competitive match of the year against Panamanian club Sporting San Miguelito in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Feb. 19.
The following day, though, Ramirez was blindsided to learn that the Galaxy were buying out his contract. He was a free agent, on the eve of the start of the MLS season.
“To wake up to the news, sort of shell-shocks you,” Ramirez said. “Hiding the news from my 7- and 5-year-old, who are in school… that’s probably the toughest thing, not knowing for basically a whole week where we’re going.”
Ramirez’s release also came as a surprise – a pleasant one – to Austin FC, who, in the continued absence of star striker Brandon Vázquez (likely out until at least mid-April), lacked a healthy No. 9 on the roster to start the season. The club quickly submitted a waiver claim and an offer.
“We looked at ourselves and said, I mean, we’re gonna try,” head coach Nico Estévez said. “You never know with a waiver. You make an offer, but you don’t know if someone made a better offer. But I think [sporting director Rodolfo Borrell] did a really good job being so quick on making that call. And thanks to that, we had the player the next day in Austin.”
After finding out his new club Thursday afternoon, Ramirez caught a red-eye to Austin that night. Paperwork and medicals took up Friday. Saturday left time for a light training session and some handshakes with his new teammates.
The next day, he was the first substitute off the bench for Austin in the 67th minute against D.C., with his family in the stands.
“This is why soccer is so unpredictable and so beautiful, that a player that has trained one day with us and we just signed, came in and helped the team.”
head coach Nico Estévez
“The way that the game was going, we felt like we needed someone like him,” Estévez said. “This is why soccer is so unpredictable and so beautiful, that a player that has trained one day with us and we just signed, came in and helped the team.”
It was the kind of goal experienced strikers score. A chaotic situation in the D.C. penalty box following an Austin free kick resulted in a loose ball at the back post, where Ramirez was situated perfectly to head it over the line. Then, pandemonium.
“It was an instant moment where you just black out,” Ramirez said. “I was immediately trying to figure out where my family was, and then I just see a sea of green coming towards me and everybody hugging me. So it was a fantastic moment, one that I’ll cherish.”
It was the perfect capper on what Ramirez called a “long, emotional week.” Also not a bad way to ingratiate yourself to new teammates.
“I mean, he had one training session with us, and he ends up scoring on his debut. It’s great,” goalkeeper Brad Stuver said with a chuckle. “Thanks to LA Galaxy for waiving him.”
For more Austin FC news and analysis, visit The Austin Chronicle’s Austin FC hub. Sign up for The Verde Report newsletter to get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox, and follow The Verde Report columnist Eric Goodman on X: @goodman.
This article appears in March 6 • 2026.
