Jump to content

Landon Donovan: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
m Reverted 1 edit by 2600:1:F140:7113:1C36:EE3F:2DD1:D45F (talk) to last revision by Cydebot. (TW)
Rescuing 13 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.3.1)
Line 95: Line 95:
In [[Major League Soccer]], Donovan won a record six [[MLS Cup]]s and is both the league's all-time top scorer with 145 goals and the league's all-time assists leader with 136.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url = http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1127529-40-greatest-usmens-players-of-all-time/page/41 | title = 40 Greatest U.S. Men's Soccer Players of All Time | publisher = bleacherreport.com | date = April 3, 2012 | accessdate = October 4, 2013 | first = Peter | last = Webster}}</ref> The Major League Soccer MVP Award has been renamed the [[Landon Donovan MVP Award]] in his honor.<ref name="mvp renamed">{{cite web|title=MLS names MVP award after U.S. legend Landon Donovan|url=http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/story/2245214/mls-names-mvp-award-after-us-legend-landon-donovan|website=[[ESPN]]|accessdate=January 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Major League Soccer names Most Valuable Player award after Landon Donovan|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/15/major-league-soccer-names-most-valuable-player-award-after-landon-donovan|website=[[Major League Soccer]]|accessdate=January 15, 2015}}</ref>
In [[Major League Soccer]], Donovan won a record six [[MLS Cup]]s and is both the league's all-time top scorer with 145 goals and the league's all-time assists leader with 136.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url = http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1127529-40-greatest-usmens-players-of-all-time/page/41 | title = 40 Greatest U.S. Men's Soccer Players of All Time | publisher = bleacherreport.com | date = April 3, 2012 | accessdate = October 4, 2013 | first = Peter | last = Webster}}</ref> The Major League Soccer MVP Award has been renamed the [[Landon Donovan MVP Award]] in his honor.<ref name="mvp renamed">{{cite web|title=MLS names MVP award after U.S. legend Landon Donovan|url=http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/story/2245214/mls-names-mvp-award-after-us-legend-landon-donovan|website=[[ESPN]]|accessdate=January 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Major League Soccer names Most Valuable Player award after Landon Donovan|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/15/major-league-soccer-names-most-valuable-player-award-after-landon-donovan|website=[[Major League Soccer]]|accessdate=January 15, 2015}}</ref>


For the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States men's national team]], Donovan is the [[List of top international association football goal scorers by country|all-time leader in scoring]] and assists, and is the second-most-[[cap (sport)|cap]]ped player of his country.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_14745621.html |title=U.S. Men's National Team Prepares to Kick Off 2009 Confederations Cup Against World Champion Italy |work=[[United States Football Federation]] |location=Chicago |accessdate=June 25, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615175059/http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_14745621.html |archivedate=June 15, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=FIFA makes Donovan's record official | url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/print?id=512376&type=story&cc=null | work=[[ESPN]] | location=New York | date=February 29, 2008 |accessdate=October 29, 2008}}</ref> Donovan is the only American player to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark.<ref name="Gold Cup: Another game, another milestone as Landon Donovan continues USMNT comeback">{{cite web|last=Itel|first=Dan|title=Gold Cup: Another game, another milestone as Landon Donovan continues USMNT comeback|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/goldcup/news/article/2013/07/10/gold-cup-another-game-another-milestone-landon-donovan-continues-usmnt-comeb?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter|publisher=Major League Soccer|accessdate=July 10, 2013}}</ref> He is a four-time winner of the [[U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year]] award (the only man to do so and the first man to win in consecutive years),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Articles/2010/12/2010-Athletes-of-the-Year-Announcement.aspx |title=Donovan, Wambach, Agbossoumonde and Henninger Voted 2010 U.S. Soccer Athletes of the Year |publisher=U.S. Soccer |date=December 20, 2010 |accessdate=December 23, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224224024/http://www.ussoccer.com:80/News/Articles/2010/12/2010-Athletes-of-the-Year-Announcement.aspx |archivedate=December 24, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> as well as the only seven-time winner of the [[Honda Player of the Year]] award.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=687455&sec=us&cc=5901 | title=Donovan wins sixth Honda Award | date=October 20, 2009 | work=[[ESPN]] | agency=Associated Press | location=Los Angeles | accessdate=October 20, 2009}}</ref> Donovan starred in the U.S. team that reached the quarter-finals of the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] where he received the [[FIFA World Cup awards#Best Young Player Award|Best Young Player Award]]. His three goals in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] made Donovan the highest scoring male American player in World Cup history and one of the three male American players to score in more than one World Cup (along with [[Brian McBride]] and [[Clint Dempsey]]).
For the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States men's national team]], Donovan is the [[List of top international association football goal scorers by country|all-time leader in scoring]] and assists, and is the second-most-[[cap (sport)|cap]]ped player of his country.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_14745621.html |title=U.S. Men's National Team Prepares to Kick Off 2009 Confederations Cup Against World Champion Italy |work=[[United States Football Federation]] |location=Chicago |accessdate=June 25, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615175059/http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_14745621.html |archivedate=June 15, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=FIFA makes Donovan's record official |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/print?id=512376&type=story&cc=null |work=[[ESPN]] |location=New York |date=February 29, 2008 |accessdate=October 29, 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710042218/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/print?id=512376&type=story&cc=null |archivedate=July 10, 2009 |df= }}</ref> Donovan is the only American player to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark.<ref name="Gold Cup: Another game, another milestone as Landon Donovan continues USMNT comeback">{{cite web|last=Itel|first=Dan|title=Gold Cup: Another game, another milestone as Landon Donovan continues USMNT comeback|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/goldcup/news/article/2013/07/10/gold-cup-another-game-another-milestone-landon-donovan-continues-usmnt-comeb?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter|publisher=Major League Soccer|accessdate=July 10, 2013}}</ref> He is a four-time winner of the [[U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year]] award (the only man to do so and the first man to win in consecutive years),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Articles/2010/12/2010-Athletes-of-the-Year-Announcement.aspx |title=Donovan, Wambach, Agbossoumonde and Henninger Voted 2010 U.S. Soccer Athletes of the Year |publisher=U.S. Soccer |date=December 20, 2010 |accessdate=December 23, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224224024/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Articles/2010/12/2010-Athletes-of-the-Year-Announcement.aspx |archivedate=December 24, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> as well as the only seven-time winner of the [[Honda Player of the Year]] award.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=687455&sec=us&cc=5901 | title=Donovan wins sixth Honda Award | date=October 20, 2009 | work=[[ESPN]] | agency=Associated Press | location=Los Angeles | accessdate=October 20, 2009}}</ref> Donovan starred in the U.S. team that reached the quarter-finals of the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] where he received the [[FIFA World Cup awards#Best Young Player Award|Best Young Player Award]]. His three goals in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] made Donovan the highest scoring male American player in World Cup history and one of the three male American players to score in more than one World Cup (along with [[Brian McBride]] and [[Clint Dempsey]]).


In March 2017, Donovan joined a private ownership group seeking to bring the next [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] expansion team to [[San Diego, California]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Landon Donovan joins ownership group trying to bring MLS expansion team to San Diego | url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/landon-donovan-owner-san-diego-mls-expansion-030317 | website = FOX Sports| date = March 3, 2017 | access-date = March 6, 2017 | first = Ryan | last = Rosenblatt}}</ref>
In March 2017, Donovan joined a private ownership group seeking to bring the next [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] expansion team to [[San Diego, California]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Landon Donovan joins ownership group trying to bring MLS expansion team to San Diego | url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/landon-donovan-owner-san-diego-mls-expansion-030317 | website = FOX Sports| date = March 3, 2017 | access-date = March 6, 2017 | first = Ryan | last = Rosenblatt}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Donovan was born (along with twin sister Tristan) on March 4, 1982 in [[Ontario, California]] to Donna Kenney-Cash, a [[special education]] teacher, and Tim Donovan, a semi-professional [[ice hockey]] player originally from Canada, which makes Donovan a Canadian citizen by descent.<ref name=jockbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Donovan_Landon/Donovan_bio.html |title=Landon Donovan Biography |publisher=JockBio |date=March 4, 1982 |accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref> His mother raised Landon and his siblings in [[Redlands, California]] and he attended [[Redlands East Valley High School]] when not engaged in soccer activities elsewhere.<ref>{{cite web|author=Landon Donovan |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=19107&cc=5901 |title=Landon Donovan Profile, Statistics, News, Game Log&nbsp;– Los Angeles, USA Major League Soccer&nbsp;– ESPN Soccernet |publisher=ESPN |date=March 4, 1982 |accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref>
Donovan was born (along with twin sister Tristan) on March 4, 1982 in [[Ontario, California]] to Donna Kenney-Cash, a [[special education]] teacher, and Tim Donovan, a semi-professional [[ice hockey]] player originally from Canada, which makes Donovan a Canadian citizen by descent.<ref name=jockbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Donovan_Landon/Donovan_bio.html |title=Landon Donovan Biography |publisher=JockBio |date=March 4, 1982 |accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref> His mother raised Landon and his siblings in [[Redlands, California]] and he attended [[Redlands East Valley High School]] when not engaged in soccer activities elsewhere.<ref>{{cite web|author=Landon Donovan |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=19107&cc=5901 |title=Landon Donovan Profile, Statistics, News, Game Log&nbsp;– Los Angeles, USA Major League Soccer&nbsp;– ESPN Soccernet |publisher=ESPN |date=March 4, 1982 |accessdate=June 26, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210204347/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=19107&cc=5901 |archivedate=February 10, 2010 |df= }}</ref>


Donovan first played soccer with his older brother and when Donovan was six, his mother allowed him to join an organized league, where he scored seven goals in his first game.<ref name=jockbio/> Donovan was a member of Cal Heat&nbsp;– a club based in nearby [[Rancho Cucamonga]] under coach Clint Greenwood. In 1997, he was accepted into U.S. Youth Soccer's Olympic Development Program. In 1999 Donovan attended the [[IMG Academy]] in [[Bradenton, Florida]] with other members of the U-17 national team as part of [[United States Soccer Federation|U.S. Soccer's]] youth development program.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/Youth/US-Under17-Men/Residency.aspx |title=Residency Program |publisher=US Soccer |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325214252/http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/youth/us-under17-men/residency.aspx |archivedate=March 25, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rogers |first=Martin |url=http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/the-day-donovan-s-career-almost-ended--fbintl_ro-donovan062110.html |title=The day Donovan's career almost ended |publisher=G.sports.yahoo.com |accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref>
Donovan first played soccer with his older brother and when Donovan was six, his mother allowed him to join an organized league, where he scored seven goals in his first game.<ref name=jockbio/> Donovan was a member of Cal Heat&nbsp;– a club based in nearby [[Rancho Cucamonga]] under coach Clint Greenwood. In 1997, he was accepted into U.S. Youth Soccer's Olympic Development Program. In 1999 Donovan attended the [[IMG Academy]] in [[Bradenton, Florida]] with other members of the U-17 national team as part of [[United States Soccer Federation|U.S. Soccer's]] youth development program.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/Youth/US-Under17-Men/Residency.aspx |title=Residency Program |publisher=US Soccer |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325214252/http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/youth/us-under17-men/residency.aspx |archivedate=March 25, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rogers |first=Martin |url=http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/the-day-donovan-s-career-almost-ended--fbintl_ro-donovan062110.html |title=The day Donovan's career almost ended |publisher=G.sports.yahoo.com |accessdate=June 26, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626035845/http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/the-day-donovan-s-career-almost-ended--fbintl_ro-donovan062110.html |archivedate=June 26, 2010 |df= }}</ref>


==Club career==
==Club career==
Line 108: Line 108:
===Bayer Leverkusen and San Jose Earthquakes===
===Bayer Leverkusen and San Jose Earthquakes===
[[File:LandonDonovan1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|150px|Donovan with the San Jose Earthquakes at the [[2003 MLS Cup]].]]
[[File:LandonDonovan1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|150px|Donovan with the San Jose Earthquakes at the [[2003 MLS Cup]].]]
Later in 1999 Donovan signed a six-year contract for German club [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]], whose sporting director Michael Reschke spotted him at a youth tournament in Europe.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.playerpress.com/articles/landon-donovan-home-is-where-the-heart-is | title=Landon Donovan: Home is where the heart is | publisher=PlayerPress.com | accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref> Despite becoming a regular starter for the club's reserve team upon arrival, Donovan had trouble "adapting to the German culture" and was allowed extended training periods with United States youth national teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.landondonovan.com/donovan/about |title=Landon Donovan |publisher=Landon Donovan |accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref> Unhappy with his situation in Leverkusen, Donovan was loaned to the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer for the 2001 season. In MLS, Donovan had immediate success, leading the Earthquakes to MLS Cup championships in 2001 and 2003 and becoming one of the only recognizable faces of soccer in America.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20051110&content_id=47956&vkey=mlscup2005&fext=.jsp | title=Los Angeles Galaxy mini bios | publisher=[[Major League Soccer]] | date=November 10, 2005 | accessdate=June 25, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070318235530/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20051110&content_id=47956&vkey=mlscup2005&fext=.jsp |archivedate = March 18, 2007}}</ref> In four years in the league, he scored 32 goals and 29 assists in league play, and 10 goals and six assists in the playoffs. Two of those goals were in the 2003 MLS Cup, a 4–2 Earthquakes triumph over the Chicago Fire. Donovan earned Man of the Match for his actions. He was named [[U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year]] in 2003.<ref name="athleteoftheyear">{{cite web | url=http://national.soccerhall.org/history/ChevroletWinners.htm | title=U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year | publisher=[[National Soccer Hall of Fame]] | accessdate=June 26, 2007}}</ref>
Later in 1999 Donovan signed a six-year contract for German club [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]], whose sporting director Michael Reschke spotted him at a youth tournament in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playerpress.com/articles/landon-donovan-home-is-where-the-heart-is |title=Landon Donovan: Home is where the heart is |publisher=PlayerPress.com |accessdate=June 26, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224224140/http://www.playerpress.com/articles/landon-donovan-home-is-where-the-heart-is |archivedate=December 24, 2009 |df= }}</ref> Despite becoming a regular starter for the club's reserve team upon arrival, Donovan had trouble "adapting to the German culture" and was allowed extended training periods with United States youth national teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.landondonovan.com/donovan/about |title=Landon Donovan |publisher=Landon Donovan |accessdate=June 26, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031035120/http://landondonovan.com/donovan/about/ |archivedate=October 31, 2010 |df= }}</ref> Unhappy with his situation in Leverkusen, Donovan was loaned to the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer for the 2001 season. In MLS, Donovan had immediate success, leading the Earthquakes to MLS Cup championships in 2001 and 2003 and becoming one of the only recognizable faces of soccer in America.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20051110&content_id=47956&vkey=mlscup2005&fext=.jsp | title=Los Angeles Galaxy mini bios | publisher=[[Major League Soccer]] | date=November 10, 2005 | accessdate=June 25, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070318235530/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20051110&content_id=47956&vkey=mlscup2005&fext=.jsp |archivedate = March 18, 2007}}</ref> In four years in the league, he scored 32 goals and 29 assists in league play, and 10 goals and six assists in the playoffs. Two of those goals were in the 2003 MLS Cup, a 4–2 Earthquakes triumph over the Chicago Fire. Donovan earned Man of the Match for his actions. He was named [[U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year]] in 2003.<ref name="athleteoftheyear">{{cite web | url=http://national.soccerhall.org/history/ChevroletWinners.htm | title=U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year | publisher=[[National Soccer Hall of Fame]] | accessdate=June 26, 2007}}</ref>


In 2004 Donovan became the first man to be named U.S. Soccer Athletes of the Year three years in a row,<ref name="athleteoftheyear"/> before returning to the Bayer Leverkusen first team in January 2005. After playing seven games with Leverkusen in the spring season, only two of which were starts, Donovan requested to leave the club. Despite a late offer from [[English Premier League]] club [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]], Donovan expressed a desire to return to the United States. Upon his re-entry to MLS, San Jose was denied the chance to re-sign Donovan because Earthquakes general manager [[Alexi Lalas]] had traded away his rights. The Los Angeles Galaxy, his hometown team, were able to trade leading scorer [[Carlos Ruiz (Guatemalan footballer)|Carlos Ruiz]] to [[FC Dallas]] to get on top of the [[allocation (MLS)|MLS allocation order]] as Donovan prepared to leave Germany.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2005-03-30-dallas-ruiz_x.htm | title=Galaxy trade Ruiz to Dallas, Donovan returning to L.A.? |work=USA Today | agency=Associated Press | date=March 30, 2005 | location=Carson, California | accessdate=June 26, 2007}}</ref>
In 2004 Donovan became the first man to be named U.S. Soccer Athletes of the Year three years in a row,<ref name="athleteoftheyear"/> before returning to the Bayer Leverkusen first team in January 2005. After playing seven games with Leverkusen in the spring season, only two of which were starts, Donovan requested to leave the club. Despite a late offer from [[English Premier League]] club [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]], Donovan expressed a desire to return to the United States. Upon his re-entry to MLS, San Jose was denied the chance to re-sign Donovan because Earthquakes general manager [[Alexi Lalas]] had traded away his rights. The Los Angeles Galaxy, his hometown team, were able to trade leading scorer [[Carlos Ruiz (Guatemalan footballer)|Carlos Ruiz]] to [[FC Dallas]] to get on top of the [[allocation (MLS)|MLS allocation order]] as Donovan prepared to leave Germany.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2005-03-30-dallas-ruiz_x.htm | title=Galaxy trade Ruiz to Dallas, Donovan returning to L.A.? |work=USA Today | agency=Associated Press | date=March 30, 2005 | location=Carson, California | accessdate=June 26, 2007}}</ref>


===Los Angeles Galaxy===
===Los Angeles Galaxy===
Donovan signed a multi-year contract with Los Angeles that made him the highest-paid American player in the league. In his first season with the Galaxy, Donovan scored twelve league goals with ten assists and added four goals and an assist in the playoffs as the Galaxy won the MLS Cup (his third MLS championship to date). He was named to the [[MLS All-Time Best XI]] after the season.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jonathan | last=Nierman | url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20051111&content_id=47999&vkey=mlscup2005&fext=.jsp | title=MLS All-Time Best XI team unveiled | work=[[Major League Soccer]] | date=November 11, 2005 | location=Frisco, Texas | accessdate=June 25, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070608223502/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20051111&content_id=47999&vkey=mlscup2005&fext=.jsp |archivedate = June 8, 2007}}</ref> In his second season with the Galaxy, Donovan scored twelve league goals and eight assists. Donovan also scored three goals in the [[US Open Cup|Open Cup]]. Despite this, Donovan and the Galaxy failed to make the playoffs and lost in the Open Cup to [[Chicago Fire S.C.|Chicago Fire]]. Donovan's playoff goals make him MLS' second all-time leading scorer in the playoffs with fourteen, behind [[Carlos Ruiz (Guatemalan footballer)|Carlos Ruiz]] with fifteen.<ref name=mls-career-stats>{{cite news | url=http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t106&player=donovan_l&playerId=don474618&statType=career | title=Landon Donovan | work=[[Los Angeles Galaxy]] | publisher=[[Major League Soccer]] | accessdate=October 29, 2008}}</ref>
Donovan signed a multi-year contract with Los Angeles that made him the highest-paid American player in the league. In his first season with the Galaxy, Donovan scored twelve league goals with ten assists and added four goals and an assist in the playoffs as the Galaxy won the MLS Cup (his third MLS championship to date). He was named to the [[MLS All-Time Best XI]] after the season.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jonathan | last=Nierman | url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20051111&content_id=47999&vkey=mlscup2005&fext=.jsp | title=MLS All-Time Best XI team unveiled | work=[[Major League Soccer]] | date=November 11, 2005 | location=Frisco, Texas | accessdate=June 25, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070608223502/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20051111&content_id=47999&vkey=mlscup2005&fext=.jsp |archivedate = June 8, 2007}}</ref> In his second season with the Galaxy, Donovan scored twelve league goals and eight assists. Donovan also scored three goals in the [[US Open Cup|Open Cup]]. Despite this, Donovan and the Galaxy failed to make the playoffs and lost in the Open Cup to [[Chicago Fire S.C.|Chicago Fire]]. Donovan's playoff goals make him MLS' second all-time leading scorer in the playoffs with fourteen, behind [[Carlos Ruiz (Guatemalan footballer)|Carlos Ruiz]] with fifteen.<ref name=mls-career-stats>{{cite news|url=http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t106&player=donovan_l&playerId=don474618&statType=career |title=Landon Donovan |work=[[Los Angeles Galaxy]] |publisher=[[Major League Soccer]] |accessdate=October 29, 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501181651/http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t106&player=donovan_l&playerId=don474618&statType=career |archivedate=May 1, 2008 |df= }}</ref>
[[File:Landon Donovan corner kick.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Donovan taking a [[corner kick]] for the Galaxy]]
[[File:Landon Donovan corner kick.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Donovan taking a [[corner kick]] for the Galaxy]]
Donovan had a mixed year with the Galaxy in 2007. Upon the signing and arrival of [[David Beckham]], Donovan relinquished his captaincy to the English superstar. In the 2007 [[North American SuperLiga|SuperLiga]] tournament, Donovan was the top scorer. Donovan scored a goal in every game except for the final. At this point in his career, Donovan had eighty-four all-time regular season goals putting him in seventh place on the league's [[Major League Soccer records and statistics#top|all-time scoring list]]. Although the [[2008 MLS season|2008 season]] was a disappointment for the Galaxy, it was a banner year for Donovan as he scored twenty goals and nine assists in twenty-five games, forming a strong offensive partnership with David Beckham and [[Edson Buddle]].<ref name=mls-career-stats/>
Donovan had a mixed year with the Galaxy in 2007. Upon the signing and arrival of [[David Beckham]], Donovan relinquished his captaincy to the English superstar. In the 2007 [[North American SuperLiga|SuperLiga]] tournament, Donovan was the top scorer. Donovan scored a goal in every game except for the final. At this point in his career, Donovan had eighty-four all-time regular season goals putting him in seventh place on the league's [[Major League Soccer records and statistics#top|all-time scoring list]]. Although the [[2008 MLS season|2008 season]] was a disappointment for the Galaxy, it was a banner year for Donovan as he scored twenty goals and nine assists in twenty-five games, forming a strong offensive partnership with David Beckham and [[Edson Buddle]].<ref name=mls-career-stats/>


After his former national team manager [[Bruce Arena]] was named Galaxy head coach and Beckham joined [[AC Milan]] on loan in early 2009, Donovan once again was given the club captaincy on a permanent basis. In July 2009, Donovan received praise and criticism for his critical comments about Beckham in ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' journalist [[Grant Wahl]]'s book ''[[The Beckham Experiment]]'', calling Beckham a poor captain and teammate. He later apologized to Beckham for discussing his concerns to a reporter rather than to him directly.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dominic Fifield in New Jersey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/16/david-beckham-la-galaxy |title=David Beckham warns LA Galaxy he will go on loan again &#124; Football &#124; guardian.co.uk |work=The Guardian |date= July 16, 2009|accessdate=June 26, 2010 | location=London}}</ref> The two reconciled upon Beckham's midseason return to Los Angeles and Donovan enjoyed an outstanding 2009 campaign, winning the league's [[Major League Soccer MVP|Most Valuable Player]] and [[MLS Goal of the Year Award|MLS Goal of The Year 2009]] award and leading the Galaxy to [[MLS Cup 2009]], which they lost on penalties. Following the season Donovan agreed to a four-year extension to his contract with the Galaxy, with clauses that allow him to seek loans during the MLS offseason. On August 1, 2010, Donovan scored the 100th goal of his MLS career. On September 18, 2010, he became the all-time leading scorer for the LA Galaxy.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ian Rose |url=http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/donovan-sets-la-galaxy-scoring-record.html |title=Donovan Sets LA Galaxy Scoring Record; theoffside.com |publisher=TheOffside |accessdate=September 19, 2010}}</ref>
After his former national team manager [[Bruce Arena]] was named Galaxy head coach and Beckham joined [[AC Milan]] on loan in early 2009, Donovan once again was given the club captaincy on a permanent basis. In July 2009, Donovan received praise and criticism for his critical comments about Beckham in ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' journalist [[Grant Wahl]]'s book ''[[The Beckham Experiment]]'', calling Beckham a poor captain and teammate. He later apologized to Beckham for discussing his concerns to a reporter rather than to him directly.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dominic Fifield in New Jersey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/16/david-beckham-la-galaxy |title=David Beckham warns LA Galaxy he will go on loan again &#124; Football &#124; guardian.co.uk |work=The Guardian |date= July 16, 2009|accessdate=June 26, 2010 | location=London}}</ref> The two reconciled upon Beckham's midseason return to Los Angeles and Donovan enjoyed an outstanding 2009 campaign, winning the league's [[Major League Soccer MVP|Most Valuable Player]] and [[MLS Goal of the Year Award|MLS Goal of The Year 2009]] award and leading the Galaxy to [[MLS Cup 2009]], which they lost on penalties. Following the season Donovan agreed to a four-year extension to his contract with the Galaxy, with clauses that allow him to seek loans during the MLS offseason. On August 1, 2010, Donovan scored the 100th goal of his MLS career. On September 18, 2010, he became the all-time leading scorer for the LA Galaxy.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ian Rose |url=http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/donovan-sets-la-galaxy-scoring-record.html |title=Donovan Sets LA Galaxy Scoring Record; theoffside.com |publisher=TheOffside |accessdate=September 19, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727182521/http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/donovan-sets-la-galaxy-scoring-record.html |archivedate=July 27, 2011 |df= }}</ref>


The Galaxy had another successful campaign in 2010 winning the [[MLS Supporters' Shield|Supporters' Shield]] for the first time since 2003. In that campaign, Donovan notched 7 goals and a team high 16 assists. In the [[2010 MLS Cup Playoffs|playoffs]], the Galaxy would ultimately succumb to FC Dallas in the semifinals.
The Galaxy had another successful campaign in 2010 winning the [[MLS Supporters' Shield|Supporters' Shield]] for the first time since 2003. In that campaign, Donovan notched 7 goals and a team high 16 assists. In the [[2010 MLS Cup Playoffs|playoffs]], the Galaxy would ultimately succumb to FC Dallas in the semifinals.
Line 132: Line 132:
====Loans to other clubs====
====Loans to other clubs====
[[File:Landon Donovan Everton vs Arsenal 2010.jpg|left|thumb|120px|Donovan before his Everton debut against Arsenal.]]
[[File:Landon Donovan Everton vs Arsenal 2010.jpg|left|thumb|120px|Donovan before his Everton debut against Arsenal.]]
In November 2008 Donovan trained with [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]],<ref>{{cite web | first=Karlheinz | last=Wild | title=Donovan zum FC Bayern? | url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/500264/ | language=German | publisher=[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]] | date=November 11, 2008}}</ref> before joining the German club on loan until the start of the 2009 MLS season in mid-March.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=594415&sec=europe&cc=5901 | title=Bayern borrow Landon Donovan from Galaxy | work=[[ESPN]] | date=November 20, 2008}}</ref> During his stay with Bayern, Donovan had appearances in five [[Exhibition game|friendly matches]], in which he scored four goals, five league games, and one [[DFB-Pokal|DFB Cup]] match.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090305&content_id=221945&vkey=pr_lag&fext=.jsp&team=t106 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706211354/http://web.mlsnet.com:80/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090305&content_id=221945&vkey=pr_lag&fext=.jsp&team=t106 | dead-url=yes | archive-date=July 6, 2009 | title=Donovan will return to LA Galaxy | publisher=Los Angeles Galaxy | date=March 5, 2009 | accessdate=June 25, 2009}} </ref> At the end of the loan period, Bayern declined to extend his loan.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9230914/Donovan-unlikely-to-extend-with-Bayern | title=Donovan unlikely to extend with Bayern | agency=Associated Press | date=February 17, 2009 | accessdate=June 25, 2009}}</ref>
In November 2008 Donovan trained with [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]],<ref>{{cite web | first=Karlheinz | last=Wild | title=Donovan zum FC Bayern? | url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/500264/ | language=German | publisher=[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]] | date=November 11, 2008}}</ref> before joining the German club on loan until the start of the 2009 MLS season in mid-March.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=594415&sec=europe&cc=5901 | title=Bayern borrow Landon Donovan from Galaxy | work=[[ESPN]] | date=November 20, 2008}}</ref> During his stay with Bayern, Donovan had appearances in five [[Exhibition game|friendly matches]], in which he scored four goals, five league games, and one [[DFB-Pokal|DFB Cup]] match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090305&content_id=221945&vkey=pr_lag&fext=.jsp&team=t106 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706211354/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090305&content_id=221945&vkey=pr_lag&fext=.jsp&team=t106 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=July 6, 2009 |title=Donovan will return to LA Galaxy |publisher=Los Angeles Galaxy |date=March 5, 2009 |accessdate=June 25, 2009 |df= }} </ref> At the end of the loan period, Bayern declined to extend his loan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9230914/Donovan-unlikely-to-extend-with-Bayern |title=Donovan unlikely to extend with Bayern |agency=Associated Press |date=February 17, 2009 |accessdate=June 25, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427141104/http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9230914/Donovan-unlikely-to-extend-with-Bayern |archivedate=April 27, 2009 |df= }}</ref>


After the 2009 MLS season had finished, Donovan joined English [[Premier League]] side [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] on loan in January 2010, though there was strong suggestions he could join his American teammates at [[Fulham F.C.]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5780634,00.html | title=Toffees Confirm Donovan Deal | publisher=Sky Sports | date=December 18, 2009 | accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://metro.co.uk/2010/12/13/landon-donovan-could-opt-for-fulham-loan-transfer-over-everton-return-611199/ | title = Landon Donovan ‘could opt for Fulham loan transfer over Everton return’ | publisher = metro.co.uk | date = December 13, 2010 | accessdate = June 14, 2013}}</ref> During this period, he played in thirteen games in all competitions, scored two goals, and was named the club's Player of the Month for his performances in January.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2010/03/14/donovan-returns-to-la|title=Donovan Returns to LA|first=Giulia|last=Bould|date=March 14, 2010|accessdate=March 15, 2010|publisher=Everton F.C.}}</ref> Everton were keen on extending his loan deal, but the Galaxy refused,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1177737.html | title=Galaxy: Donovan Not Staying At Everton | publisher=FIFA | date=March 5, 2010 | accessdate=March 6, 2010}}</ref> and Donovan returned to the US in time for the start of the 2010 MLS season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Landon Donovan returns to US after loan spell at Everton ends|work=The Guardian |date=March 14, 2010|accessdate=March 15, 2010|url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/mar/14/everton-landon-donovan}}</ref>
After the 2009 MLS season had finished, Donovan joined English [[Premier League]] side [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] on loan in January 2010, though there was strong suggestions he could join his American teammates at [[Fulham F.C.]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5780634,00.html | title=Toffees Confirm Donovan Deal | publisher=Sky Sports | date=December 18, 2009 | accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://metro.co.uk/2010/12/13/landon-donovan-could-opt-for-fulham-loan-transfer-over-everton-return-611199/ | title = Landon Donovan ‘could opt for Fulham loan transfer over Everton return’ | publisher = metro.co.uk | date = December 13, 2010 | accessdate = June 14, 2013}}</ref> During this period, he played in thirteen games in all competitions, scored two goals, and was named the club's Player of the Month for his performances in January.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2010/03/14/donovan-returns-to-la|title=Donovan Returns to LA|first=Giulia|last=Bould|date=March 14, 2010|accessdate=March 15, 2010|publisher=Everton F.C.}}</ref> Everton were keen on extending his loan deal, but the Galaxy refused,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1177737.html | title=Galaxy: Donovan Not Staying At Everton | publisher=FIFA | date=March 5, 2010 | accessdate=March 6, 2010}}</ref> and Donovan returned to the US in time for the start of the 2010 MLS season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Landon Donovan returns to US after loan spell at Everton ends|work=The Guardian |date=March 14, 2010|accessdate=March 15, 2010|url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/mar/14/everton-landon-donovan}}</ref>
Line 159: Line 159:
Donovan was a member of the inaugural class at [[United States Soccer Federation|U.S. Soccer]]'s full-time residency program at the [[IMG Academy]] in [[Bradenton, Florida]]. He won the Golden Ball at the [[1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship]] as the tournament's best player. In his two years playing for the U-17 team, he scored 35 goals in 41 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/roster/men/donovan.htm |title=Profile: Landon Donovan |publisher=Soccertimes.com |accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref> In 2000, he moved up to both the [[United States U-23 men's national soccer team]] as well as the senior team. Despite this he played for the [[United States U-20 men's national soccer team]] in 2001. On March 20, 2001, he was involved in a collision with Marvin Lee, the captain of [[Trinidad and Tobago national under-20 football team|Trinidad and Tobago U-20]] team during the [[2001 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament]] in Trinidad. Lee collided head to side with Donovan which resulted in Lee being paralized after sustaining neck and spine injuries, while Donovan had fractured ribs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/us/mnt.php?article_id=19908|title=Donovan's Grief}}</ref> Lee died in 2003 from complications caused by his condition, the stadium now carries [[Marvin Lee Stadium|his name]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,1858.html|title=Marvin Lee passes away|publisher=newsday.co.tt|date=March 10, 2003}}</ref>
Donovan was a member of the inaugural class at [[United States Soccer Federation|U.S. Soccer]]'s full-time residency program at the [[IMG Academy]] in [[Bradenton, Florida]]. He won the Golden Ball at the [[1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship]] as the tournament's best player. In his two years playing for the U-17 team, he scored 35 goals in 41 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/roster/men/donovan.htm |title=Profile: Landon Donovan |publisher=Soccertimes.com |accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref> In 2000, he moved up to both the [[United States U-23 men's national soccer team]] as well as the senior team. Despite this he played for the [[United States U-20 men's national soccer team]] in 2001. On March 20, 2001, he was involved in a collision with Marvin Lee, the captain of [[Trinidad and Tobago national under-20 football team|Trinidad and Tobago U-20]] team during the [[2001 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament]] in Trinidad. Lee collided head to side with Donovan which resulted in Lee being paralized after sustaining neck and spine injuries, while Donovan had fractured ribs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/us/mnt.php?article_id=19908|title=Donovan's Grief}}</ref> Lee died in 2003 from complications caused by his condition, the stadium now carries [[Marvin Lee Stadium|his name]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,1858.html|title=Marvin Lee passes away|publisher=newsday.co.tt|date=March 10, 2003}}</ref>


Donovan made his World Cup finals debut in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] starting in the shock upset of pre-tournament favorites Portugal, a match the Americans won 3–2. Donovan's cross in the 29th minute deflected in off [[Jorge Costa]], giving the U.S. a 2–0 lead. Later, Donovan would tally his first World Cup finals goal in the 83rd minute of a 3–1 loss to Poland in the third match of the group stage. He then scored his second goal of the tournament on a header which clinched a 2–0 round of 16 victory for the Americans over arch-rival Mexico. Though the U.S. would go on to lose 1–0 to Germany in the quarterfinals, Donovan would later be named [[FIFA World Cup awards#Best Young Player Award|Best Young Player]] of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/awards/bestyoungplayer/player=175507/index.html |title=Hyundai Best Young Player Award: 2002 Landon Donovan (USA) |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612115110/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/awards/bestyoungplayer/player=175507/index.html |archivedate=June 12, 2010 }}</ref>
Donovan made his World Cup finals debut in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] starting in the shock upset of pre-tournament favorites Portugal, a match the Americans won 3–2. Donovan's cross in the 29th minute deflected in off [[Jorge Costa]], giving the U.S. a 2–0 lead. Later, Donovan would tally his first World Cup finals goal in the 83rd minute of a 3–1 loss to Poland in the third match of the group stage. He then scored his second goal of the tournament on a header which clinched a 2–0 round of 16 victory for the Americans over arch-rival Mexico. Though the U.S. would go on to lose 1–0 to Germany in the quarterfinals, Donovan would later be named [[FIFA World Cup awards#Best Young Player Award|Best Young Player]] of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/awards/bestyoungplayer/player=175507/index.html |title=Hyundai Best Young Player Award: 2002 Landon Donovan (USA) |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612115110/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/awards/bestyoungplayer/player%3D175507/index.html |archivedate=June 12, 2010 |df= }}</ref>


Donovan was a member of the U.S. squad at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]], in which the Americans were eliminated in the group stage. Failing to provide any goals or assists throughout the three games, he was widely criticized by American viewers for his performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/05/after_disappointment_of_2006_a.html|title=After disappointment of 2006, American star Landon Donovan feels prepared for World Cup| first = Colin | last= Stephenson | date = May 19, 2010 | website = nj.com | access-date= August 9, 2016}}</ref> The following year he led the U.S. to the [[2007 Gold Cup]] title with 4 goals, including a crucial penalty in the 2–1 victory over Mexico in the final. On January 19, 2008, Donovan scored his 35th international goal, a penalty against [[Sweden national football team|Sweden]], and passed [[Eric Wynalda]] as the United States' all-time leading goal scorer. Donovan reached 100 caps at the age of 26 on June 8, 2008, in a friendly against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] that ended in a 0–0 draw, and was the fourth-youngest person to do so.<ref name="ussoccerbio">{{cite web | url=http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/MNT/D/Landon-Donovan.aspx | title=Landon Donovan | publisher=U.S. Soccer | accessdate=July 7, 2010}}</ref> Donovan captained the U.S. in the group stage of the [[2009 FIFA Confederations Cup]] due to [[Carlos Bocanegra]]'s injury absence. Donovan scored on a penalty kick against [[Italy national football team|Italy]], shortly after his team had been reduced to 10 men, and scored for the United States in a 3–2 defeat to [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in the final. On October 10, 2009, Donovan scored on a free kick, giving the U.S. a 3–2 victory over [[Honduras national football team|Honduras]] in [[San Pedro Sula]], clinching a berth in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]].
Donovan was a member of the U.S. squad at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]], in which the Americans were eliminated in the group stage. Failing to provide any goals or assists throughout the three games, he was widely criticized by American viewers for his performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/05/after_disappointment_of_2006_a.html|title=After disappointment of 2006, American star Landon Donovan feels prepared for World Cup| first = Colin | last= Stephenson | date = May 19, 2010 | website = nj.com | access-date= August 9, 2016}}</ref> The following year he led the U.S. to the [[2007 Gold Cup]] title with 4 goals, including a crucial penalty in the 2–1 victory over Mexico in the final. On January 19, 2008, Donovan scored his 35th international goal, a penalty against [[Sweden national football team|Sweden]], and passed [[Eric Wynalda]] as the United States' all-time leading goal scorer. Donovan reached 100 caps at the age of 26 on June 8, 2008, in a friendly against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] that ended in a 0–0 draw, and was the fourth-youngest person to do so.<ref name="ussoccerbio">{{cite web|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/MNT/D/Landon-Donovan.aspx |title=Landon Donovan |publisher=U.S. Soccer |accessdate=July 7, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704102549/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/MNT/D/Landon-Donovan.aspx |archivedate=July 4, 2010 |df= }}</ref> Donovan captained the U.S. in the group stage of the [[2009 FIFA Confederations Cup]] due to [[Carlos Bocanegra]]'s injury absence. Donovan scored on a penalty kick against [[Italy national football team|Italy]], shortly after his team had been reduced to 10 men, and scored for the United States in a 3–2 defeat to [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in the final. On October 10, 2009, Donovan scored on a free kick, giving the U.S. a 3–2 victory over [[Honduras national football team|Honduras]] in [[San Pedro Sula]], clinching a berth in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]].


Donovan played every minute of the U.S. campaign in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] in [[South Africa]]. He scored against [[Slovenia national football team|Slovenia]] with a powerful close-range finish to begin a U.S. comeback for a 2–2 draw,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_22/default.stm|title=Slovenia 2–2 USA|date=June 18, 2010|first=David|last=Ornstein|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=June 19, 2010}}</ref> and the only goal in the dying seconds of a 1–0 defeat of [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] with a finish off a rebounded Clint Dempsey attempt, leading the USA to first place in their World Cup group for the first time since 1930.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/live/competitions/worldcup/matchday=13/day=1/match=300061461/index.html |title=USA-Algeria&nbsp;– The matches of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa |publisher=FIFA.com |date=June 10, 2010 |accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>Blum, Ronald. [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9GH315O0&show_article=1 US advances at World Cup with 1–0 win], [[Associated Press]], June 23, 2010.</ref> Donovan scored a penalty in the round of 16 against [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]] as the U.S lost 2–1 after extra time and were eliminated from the competition.<ref name=USvGhana>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_50/default.stm|title=USA 1–2 Ghana (aet)|date=June 26, 2010|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=June 28, 2010|first=Paul|last=Fletcher}}</ref> His goals in South Africa made Donovan the highest scoring American male in World Cup history,<ref name=USvGhana/> and just the third American man to score in more than one World Cup (after [[Brian McBride]] and [[Clint Dempsey]]).<ref>Dempsey was the second American to score in more than one World Cup during the [http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37660344/ns/sports-world_cup/ first match with England]. The following match was against Slovenia, in which Donovan scored the first goal, thus making him the third.</ref> His total of five World Cup goals is the most for any man representing a team from CONCACAF.
Donovan played every minute of the U.S. campaign in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] in [[South Africa]]. He scored against [[Slovenia national football team|Slovenia]] with a powerful close-range finish to begin a U.S. comeback for a 2–2 draw,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_22/default.stm|title=Slovenia 2–2 USA|date=June 18, 2010|first=David|last=Ornstein|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=June 19, 2010}}</ref> and the only goal in the dying seconds of a 1–0 defeat of [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] with a finish off a rebounded Clint Dempsey attempt, leading the USA to first place in their World Cup group for the first time since 1930.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/live/competitions/worldcup/matchday=13/day=1/match=300061461/index.html |title=USA-Algeria&nbsp;– The matches of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa |publisher=FIFA.com |date=June 10, 2010 |accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>Blum, Ronald. [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9GH315O0&show_article=1 US advances at World Cup with 1–0 win], [[Associated Press]], June 23, 2010.</ref> Donovan scored a penalty in the round of 16 against [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]] as the U.S lost 2–1 after extra time and were eliminated from the competition.<ref name=USvGhana>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_50/default.stm|title=USA 1–2 Ghana (aet)|date=June 26, 2010|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=June 28, 2010|first=Paul|last=Fletcher}}</ref> His goals in South Africa made Donovan the highest scoring American male in World Cup history,<ref name=USvGhana/> and just the third American man to score in more than one World Cup (after [[Brian McBride]] and [[Clint Dempsey]]).<ref>Dempsey was the second American to score in more than one World Cup during the [http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37660344/ns/sports-world_cup/ first match with England]. The following match was against Slovenia, in which Donovan scored the first goal, thus making him the third.</ref> His total of five World Cup goals is the most for any man representing a team from CONCACAF.


After missing the first three World Cup qualifiers of 2013 due to his extended offseason [[sabbatical]], Donovan was left off of the squad by [[Jürgen Klinsmann]] for the June qualifying games despite having returned to playing full-time in March.<ref name="Landon Donovan left off World Cup qualifier roster">{{cite news|last=Whiteside|first=Kelly|title=Landon Donovan left off World Cup qualifier roster|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2013/05/16/landon-donovan-world-cup-qualifier-jurgen-klinsmann/2168481/|accessdate=July 6, 2013|newspaper=USA Today|date=May 16, 2013}}</ref> However, Donovan was re-called to the national team for the [[2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup]] to be played in July.<ref name="Donovan on USA Gold Cup roster">{{cite web|title=Donovan on USA Gold Cup roster|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/usa/story/landon-donovan-finally-back-with-usa-on-gold-cup-roster-062713|publisher=Fox Sports|accessdate=July 6, 2013}}</ref> On July 5, 2013, Donovan became the first U.S. player to reach the 50 international goal mark and the fourth man in [[CONCACAF]] to score 50 international goals after a brace vs [[Guatemala national football team|Guatemala]] in a warmup friendly before the Gold Cup.<ref name="USMNT 6, Guatemala 0 | International Friendly Match Recap">{{cite web|title=USMNT 6, Guatemala 0 {{!}} International Friendly Match Recap|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-07-05-USA-v-GUA/recap|publisher=Major League Soccer|accessdate=July 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name="US beats Guatemala 6-0, but players need proving">{{cite web|last=Cardillo|first=Julian|title=U.S. beats Guatemala 6–0, but players need proving|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/blog/2013/07/us_beats_guatemala_6-0_but_players_need_proving.html|publisher=Boston.com|accessdate=July 6, 2013}}</ref> Four days later, Donovan became the first player to reach 50 goals and 50 assists for the United States during a 6–1 group stage victory against [[Belize national football team|Belize]] in which he had one goal and two assists.<ref name="Gold Cup: Another game, another milestone as Landon Donovan continues USMNT comeback"/> After the United States won the Gold Cup title with a victory over Panama, Donovan was awarded the tournament's Best Player trophy after tying for the tournament lead with 5 goals scored. Donovan was recalled to the full national squad for the first time in over a year for the USA's September World Cup qualifying matches against Costa Rica and Mexico. Donovan started and played 90 minutes in both games. With the U.S. needing a win over Mexico to clinch qualification, Donovan's corner kick assisted [[Eddie Johnson (American soccer)|Eddie Johnson's]] go-ahead goal in the 57th minute. Then, in the 78th minute, Donovan scored off a low cross from [[Mikkel Diskerud|Mix Diskerud]] to make the score 2–0, and effectively seal the win, and the World Cup berth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/news/mens-national-team/2013/09/130910-mnt-match-report-vs-mexico.aspx |title=U.S. MNT Qualifies for 2014 World Cup in Brazil with 2–0 Victory Against Mexico at Sold-Out Columbus Crew Stadium |date=September 10, 2013 |publisher=ussoccer.com |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015102143/http://www.ussoccer.com/news/mens-national-team/2013/09/130910-mnt-match-report-vs-mexico.aspx |archivedate=October 15, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref>
After missing the first three World Cup qualifiers of 2013 due to his extended offseason [[sabbatical]], Donovan was left off of the squad by [[Jürgen Klinsmann]] for the June qualifying games despite having returned to playing full-time in March.<ref name="Landon Donovan left off World Cup qualifier roster">{{cite news|last=Whiteside|first=Kelly|title=Landon Donovan left off World Cup qualifier roster|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2013/05/16/landon-donovan-world-cup-qualifier-jurgen-klinsmann/2168481/|accessdate=July 6, 2013|newspaper=USA Today|date=May 16, 2013}}</ref> However, Donovan was re-called to the national team for the [[2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup]] to be played in July.<ref name="Donovan on USA Gold Cup roster">{{cite web|title=Donovan on USA Gold Cup roster|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/usa/story/landon-donovan-finally-back-with-usa-on-gold-cup-roster-062713|publisher=Fox Sports|accessdate=July 6, 2013}}</ref> On July 5, 2013, Donovan became the first U.S. player to reach the 50 international goal mark and the fourth man in [[CONCACAF]] to score 50 international goals after a brace vs [[Guatemala national football team|Guatemala]] in a warmup friendly before the Gold Cup.<ref name="USMNT 6, Guatemala 0 | International Friendly Match Recap">{{cite web|title=USMNT 6, Guatemala 0 {{!}} International Friendly Match Recap |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-07-05-USA-v-GUA/recap |publisher=Major League Soccer |accessdate=July 6, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709061555/http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-07-05-USA-v-GUA/recap |archivedate=July 9, 2013 |df= }}</ref><ref name="US beats Guatemala 6-0, but players need proving">{{cite web|last=Cardillo|first=Julian|title=U.S. beats Guatemala 6–0, but players need proving|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/blog/2013/07/us_beats_guatemala_6-0_but_players_need_proving.html|publisher=Boston.com|accessdate=July 6, 2013}}</ref> Four days later, Donovan became the first player to reach 50 goals and 50 assists for the United States during a 6–1 group stage victory against [[Belize national football team|Belize]] in which he had one goal and two assists.<ref name="Gold Cup: Another game, another milestone as Landon Donovan continues USMNT comeback"/> After the United States won the Gold Cup title with a victory over Panama, Donovan was awarded the tournament's Best Player trophy after tying for the tournament lead with 5 goals scored. Donovan was recalled to the full national squad for the first time in over a year for the USA's September World Cup qualifying matches against Costa Rica and Mexico. Donovan started and played 90 minutes in both games. With the U.S. needing a win over Mexico to clinch qualification, Donovan's corner kick assisted [[Eddie Johnson (American soccer)|Eddie Johnson's]] go-ahead goal in the 57th minute. Then, in the 78th minute, Donovan scored off a low cross from [[Mikkel Diskerud|Mix Diskerud]] to make the score 2–0, and effectively seal the win, and the World Cup berth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/news/mens-national-team/2013/09/130910-mnt-match-report-vs-mexico.aspx |title=U.S. MNT Qualifies for 2014 World Cup in Brazil with 2–0 Victory Against Mexico at Sold-Out Columbus Crew Stadium |date=September 10, 2013 |publisher=ussoccer.com |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015102143/http://www.ussoccer.com/news/mens-national-team/2013/09/130910-mnt-match-report-vs-mexico.aspx |archivedate=October 15, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref>


In May 2014 Donovan was named in the preliminary squad for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] and joined the team in training camp. However, on May 22, 2014 Donovan was controversially left off of the final US roster by manager Jürgen Klinsmann. Klinsmann called it "one of the toughest decisions in [his] coaching career", but stated that "I just think the other guys right now are a little bit ahead of him".<ref name="Baxter">{{cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=May 22, 2014 |title=What's behind Landon Donovan being left off U.S. World Cup roster |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-us-world-cup-roster-20140523-story.html |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |accessdate=June 21, 2016}}</ref> Klinsmann's decision, which was described by media staff as abruptly timed after Klinsmann had previously promised to wait until after the team's friendly matches to announce cuts,<ref name="Baxter"/> saw additional controversy when Klinsmann's son Jonathan published and later deleted a post on [[Twitter]] that appeared to ridicule Donovan following the announcement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Firchau |first=Nick |date=May 23, 2014 |title=World Cup: Jurgen Klinsmann says son owes Landon Donovan "huge apology" for controversial tweets |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2014/05/23/world-cup-jurgen-klinsmann-says-son-owes-landon-donovan-huge-apology-controversial |newspaper=MLSSoccer.com |accessdate=September 12, 2016}}</ref>
In May 2014 Donovan was named in the preliminary squad for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] and joined the team in training camp. However, on May 22, 2014 Donovan was controversially left off of the final US roster by manager Jürgen Klinsmann. Klinsmann called it "one of the toughest decisions in [his] coaching career", but stated that "I just think the other guys right now are a little bit ahead of him".<ref name="Baxter">{{cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=May 22, 2014 |title=What's behind Landon Donovan being left off U.S. World Cup roster |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-us-world-cup-roster-20140523-story.html |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |accessdate=June 21, 2016}}</ref> Klinsmann's decision, which was described by media staff as abruptly timed after Klinsmann had previously promised to wait until after the team's friendly matches to announce cuts,<ref name="Baxter"/> saw additional controversy when Klinsmann's son Jonathan published and later deleted a post on [[Twitter]] that appeared to ridicule Donovan following the announcement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Firchau |first=Nick |date=May 23, 2014 |title=World Cup: Jurgen Klinsmann says son owes Landon Donovan "huge apology" for controversial tweets |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2014/05/23/world-cup-jurgen-klinsmann-says-son-owes-landon-donovan-huge-apology-controversial |newspaper=MLSSoccer.com |accessdate=September 12, 2016}}</ref>

Revision as of 08:38, 11 May 2017

Landon Donovan
Donovan playing for the LA Galaxy in 2010
Personal information
Full name Landon Timothy Donovan[1]
Date of birth (1982-03-04) March 4, 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Ontario, California, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Winger, Forward
Youth career
1999 IMG Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Bayer Leverkusen II 28 (9)
2000–2005 Bayer Leverkusen 7 (0)
2001–2004San Jose Earthquakes (loan) 87 (32)
2005–2014 LA Galaxy 247 (112)
2009Bayern Munich (loan) 6 (0)
2010Everton (loan) 10 (2)
2012Everton (loan) 7 (0)
2016 LA Galaxy 6 (1)
International career
1998–1999 United States U17 41 (35)
2001 United States U20 4 (0)
2000–2004 United States U23 15 (9)
2000–2014 United States 157 (57)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's Soccer
FIFA Confederations Cup
Runner-up 2009 South Africa Team
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2002
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2005
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2007
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013
Runner-up CONCACAF Gold Cup 2011
Third place CONCACAF Gold Cup 2003
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 26, 2016

Landon Timothy Donovan (born March 4, 1982) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward and attacking midfielder. He holds numerous individual records in Major League Soccer and for the United States national team and is widely regarded as the greatest American men's soccer player of all time.[3][4][5]

A native of Southern California, Donovan was a member of the inaugural class of the U.S. Soccer youth residency program in Bradenton, Florida. He was awarded player of the tournament for his role in the United States U17 squad that finished fourth in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship before signing with German club Bayer Leverkusen later that year. In 2005, after six years with Bayer, the majority of which were spent on loan with the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer, Donovan moved back to United States permanently to sign with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He later returned to Germany for a loan with Bayern Munich, and twice went on short loans to English Premier League team Everton in 2010 and 2012. He retired as a player in 2014, but made a brief comeback with LA Galaxy late in the 2016 season.

In Major League Soccer, Donovan won a record six MLS Cups and is both the league's all-time top scorer with 145 goals and the league's all-time assists leader with 136.[6] The Major League Soccer MVP Award has been renamed the Landon Donovan MVP Award in his honor.[7][8]

For the United States men's national team, Donovan is the all-time leader in scoring and assists, and is the second-most-capped player of his country.[9][10] Donovan is the only American player to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark.[11] He is a four-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award (the only man to do so and the first man to win in consecutive years),[12] as well as the only seven-time winner of the Honda Player of the Year award.[13] Donovan starred in the U.S. team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup where he received the Best Young Player Award. His three goals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup made Donovan the highest scoring male American player in World Cup history and one of the three male American players to score in more than one World Cup (along with Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey).

In March 2017, Donovan joined a private ownership group seeking to bring the next MLS expansion team to San Diego, California.[14]

Early life and education

Donovan was born (along with twin sister Tristan) on March 4, 1982 in Ontario, California to Donna Kenney-Cash, a special education teacher, and Tim Donovan, a semi-professional ice hockey player originally from Canada, which makes Donovan a Canadian citizen by descent.[15] His mother raised Landon and his siblings in Redlands, California and he attended Redlands East Valley High School when not engaged in soccer activities elsewhere.[16]

Donovan first played soccer with his older brother and when Donovan was six, his mother allowed him to join an organized league, where he scored seven goals in his first game.[15] Donovan was a member of Cal Heat – a club based in nearby Rancho Cucamonga under coach Clint Greenwood. In 1997, he was accepted into U.S. Youth Soccer's Olympic Development Program. In 1999 Donovan attended the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida with other members of the U-17 national team as part of U.S. Soccer's youth development program.[17][18]

Club career

Bayer Leverkusen and San Jose Earthquakes

Donovan with the San Jose Earthquakes at the 2003 MLS Cup.

Later in 1999 Donovan signed a six-year contract for German club Bayer Leverkusen, whose sporting director Michael Reschke spotted him at a youth tournament in Europe.[19] Despite becoming a regular starter for the club's reserve team upon arrival, Donovan had trouble "adapting to the German culture" and was allowed extended training periods with United States youth national teams.[20] Unhappy with his situation in Leverkusen, Donovan was loaned to the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer for the 2001 season. In MLS, Donovan had immediate success, leading the Earthquakes to MLS Cup championships in 2001 and 2003 and becoming one of the only recognizable faces of soccer in America.[21] In four years in the league, he scored 32 goals and 29 assists in league play, and 10 goals and six assists in the playoffs. Two of those goals were in the 2003 MLS Cup, a 4–2 Earthquakes triumph over the Chicago Fire. Donovan earned Man of the Match for his actions. He was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2003.[22]

In 2004 Donovan became the first man to be named U.S. Soccer Athletes of the Year three years in a row,[22] before returning to the Bayer Leverkusen first team in January 2005. After playing seven games with Leverkusen in the spring season, only two of which were starts, Donovan requested to leave the club. Despite a late offer from English Premier League club Portsmouth, Donovan expressed a desire to return to the United States. Upon his re-entry to MLS, San Jose was denied the chance to re-sign Donovan because Earthquakes general manager Alexi Lalas had traded away his rights. The Los Angeles Galaxy, his hometown team, were able to trade leading scorer Carlos Ruiz to FC Dallas to get on top of the MLS allocation order as Donovan prepared to leave Germany.[23]

Los Angeles Galaxy

Donovan signed a multi-year contract with Los Angeles that made him the highest-paid American player in the league. In his first season with the Galaxy, Donovan scored twelve league goals with ten assists and added four goals and an assist in the playoffs as the Galaxy won the MLS Cup (his third MLS championship to date). He was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI after the season.[24] In his second season with the Galaxy, Donovan scored twelve league goals and eight assists. Donovan also scored three goals in the Open Cup. Despite this, Donovan and the Galaxy failed to make the playoffs and lost in the Open Cup to Chicago Fire. Donovan's playoff goals make him MLS' second all-time leading scorer in the playoffs with fourteen, behind Carlos Ruiz with fifteen.[25]

Donovan taking a corner kick for the Galaxy

Donovan had a mixed year with the Galaxy in 2007. Upon the signing and arrival of David Beckham, Donovan relinquished his captaincy to the English superstar. In the 2007 SuperLiga tournament, Donovan was the top scorer. Donovan scored a goal in every game except for the final. At this point in his career, Donovan had eighty-four all-time regular season goals putting him in seventh place on the league's all-time scoring list. Although the 2008 season was a disappointment for the Galaxy, it was a banner year for Donovan as he scored twenty goals and nine assists in twenty-five games, forming a strong offensive partnership with David Beckham and Edson Buddle.[25]

After his former national team manager Bruce Arena was named Galaxy head coach and Beckham joined AC Milan on loan in early 2009, Donovan once again was given the club captaincy on a permanent basis. In July 2009, Donovan received praise and criticism for his critical comments about Beckham in Sports Illustrated journalist Grant Wahl's book The Beckham Experiment, calling Beckham a poor captain and teammate. He later apologized to Beckham for discussing his concerns to a reporter rather than to him directly.[26] The two reconciled upon Beckham's midseason return to Los Angeles and Donovan enjoyed an outstanding 2009 campaign, winning the league's Most Valuable Player and MLS Goal of The Year 2009 award and leading the Galaxy to MLS Cup 2009, which they lost on penalties. Following the season Donovan agreed to a four-year extension to his contract with the Galaxy, with clauses that allow him to seek loans during the MLS offseason. On August 1, 2010, Donovan scored the 100th goal of his MLS career. On September 18, 2010, he became the all-time leading scorer for the LA Galaxy.[27]

The Galaxy had another successful campaign in 2010 winning the Supporters' Shield for the first time since 2003. In that campaign, Donovan notched 7 goals and a team high 16 assists. In the playoffs, the Galaxy would ultimately succumb to FC Dallas in the semifinals.

In 2011, the Galaxy again won the MLS Supporter's Shield. In the 2011 MLS Cup, Donovan scored the title-clinching goal in the 72nd minute over the Houston Dynamo, securing his 4th MLS Cup title.[28] Donovan was named the MLS Cup MVP.

In October 2012, Donovan expressed his desire to take a break from his professional soccer career, citing physical and mental exhaustion as the main reasons.[29] In the Galaxy's next game, the 2012 MLS Cup, a rematch with Houston, Donovan converted a penalty kick in the 65th minute of play to give LA a 2–1 lead. The goal was Donovan's fifth in MLS Cup Finals. The Galaxy went on to win their second straight MLS Cup, 3–1.

Donovan returned to training with the Galaxy on March 25, 2013 and made his season debut five days later against Toronto FC, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute. However, upon his return it was announced that he would be forced to relinquish the captaincy to Robbie Keane for the 2013 season. He scored two goals against C.D. Chivas USA tying him with Jeff Cunningham together as the top MLS goalscorer with 134 goals. On May 25, 2014, Donovan scored twice against the Philadelphia Union to break Cunningham's record of 134, making Donovan Major League Soccer's All-Time leading goalscorer with 136 goals.[30] On August 6, 2014, Donovan scored the winning goal at the MLS All Star game, getting the ball past Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at the 70th minute, he was subsequently substituted for Sporting Kansas City striker Dom Dwyer and gave the captain's armband to Canadian international Will Johnson. On August 7, 2014, Donovan announced that he would be retiring at the end of the 2014 Major League Soccer season; the season ended with the Galaxy winning their fourth MLS Cup of the Donovan era on December 7, 2014.

Donovan made his first appearance for the Galaxy after coming out of retirement on September 11, 2016, wearing the No. 26 jersey. But then announced that he was going back into retirement.

Loans to other clubs

Donovan before his Everton debut against Arsenal.

In November 2008 Donovan trained with Bayern Munich,[31] before joining the German club on loan until the start of the 2009 MLS season in mid-March.[32] During his stay with Bayern, Donovan had appearances in five friendly matches, in which he scored four goals, five league games, and one DFB Cup match.[33] At the end of the loan period, Bayern declined to extend his loan.[34]

After the 2009 MLS season had finished, Donovan joined English Premier League side Everton on loan in January 2010, though there was strong suggestions he could join his American teammates at Fulham F.C.[35][36] During this period, he played in thirteen games in all competitions, scored two goals, and was named the club's Player of the Month for his performances in January.[37] Everton were keen on extending his loan deal, but the Galaxy refused,[38] and Donovan returned to the US in time for the start of the 2010 MLS season.[39]

An agreement was reached in December 2011 for Donovan to spend another two months at Everton beginning in January 2012.[40] Donovan made his returning debut for Everton on January 4, 2012 against Bolton Wanderers, Everton lost 2–1. In his third game on loan, he assisted Everton's only goal in a 1–1 draw against Aston Villa on January 14, 2012. On January 27, 2012, Donovan assisted in both goals in a 2–1 win over Fulham in the FA Cup Fourth round Proper. On January 31, 2012, he assisted in Darron Gibson's winning goal over Manchester City. Donovan took his tally of assists to 7 when he assisted Denis Stracqualursi's goal in a 2–0 victory over Chelsea on February 11, 2012.

Return to Los Angeles Galaxy

On September 8, 2016 Landon Donovan announced his return from retirement and officially signed with Los Angeles Galaxy for the remainder of the 2016 season (six regular season games and any consecutive play-off matches).[41]

Donovan explained that the injuries sustained by the club late in the season led to his decision to return:

"Two weeks ago, I was working as an analyst on the LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps match and during that game, the Galaxy suffered injuries to three players: Jelle Van Damme, Steven Gerrard and Gyasi Zardes. Over the next few days, Nigel De Jong was transferred to Galatasaray and news broke that Gyasi would be out for the rest of the season.

Since my retirement, I have remained in close contact with many of the staff and players on the Galaxy. I spoke with some of them that week and they jokingly asked if I was ready to make a return to the field to help fill some of the void left by the injuries and departures.

I reminded them that I haven't played a meaningful soccer game in almost two years and I certainly couldn't fill the holes left by those players. Over the ensuing days, I began to think about their inquiries and it struck me that perhaps this is something I should consider. I care so deeply about the Galaxy organization, and I believe I could help in a small way to aid the team in its quest for a sixth MLS championship."[42][43]

On September 11, 2016, Donovan entered the match against Orlando City as a substitute on the 83rd minute.[44] As his traditional number 10 was worn by Giovani dos Santos, Donovan selected number 26, which he wore at Bayer Leverkusen when he began his career in 1999.[42][45]

Donovan scored a goal in his second match after returning to the Galaxy. On September 18, 2016, he came on as a substitute in the 74th minute in a match against Sporting Kansas City and scored two minutes later to tie the game 2–2.[46]

Altogether, Donovan played in all six remaining matches of the 2016 regular season, as well as in all three play-off matches. He started in five of them and scored one goal. At the end of the play-off run Donovan retired for the second time.[47]

International career

Donovan (left) playing against Algeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup

Donovan was a member of the inaugural class at U.S. Soccer's full-time residency program at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He won the Golden Ball at the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship as the tournament's best player. In his two years playing for the U-17 team, he scored 35 goals in 41 games.[48] In 2000, he moved up to both the United States U-23 men's national soccer team as well as the senior team. Despite this he played for the United States U-20 men's national soccer team in 2001. On March 20, 2001, he was involved in a collision with Marvin Lee, the captain of Trinidad and Tobago U-20 team during the 2001 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament in Trinidad. Lee collided head to side with Donovan which resulted in Lee being paralized after sustaining neck and spine injuries, while Donovan had fractured ribs.[49] Lee died in 2003 from complications caused by his condition, the stadium now carries his name.[50]

Donovan made his World Cup finals debut in the 2002 World Cup starting in the shock upset of pre-tournament favorites Portugal, a match the Americans won 3–2. Donovan's cross in the 29th minute deflected in off Jorge Costa, giving the U.S. a 2–0 lead. Later, Donovan would tally his first World Cup finals goal in the 83rd minute of a 3–1 loss to Poland in the third match of the group stage. He then scored his second goal of the tournament on a header which clinched a 2–0 round of 16 victory for the Americans over arch-rival Mexico. Though the U.S. would go on to lose 1–0 to Germany in the quarterfinals, Donovan would later be named Best Young Player of the tournament.[51]

Donovan was a member of the U.S. squad at the 2006 World Cup, in which the Americans were eliminated in the group stage. Failing to provide any goals or assists throughout the three games, he was widely criticized by American viewers for his performance.[52] The following year he led the U.S. to the 2007 Gold Cup title with 4 goals, including a crucial penalty in the 2–1 victory over Mexico in the final. On January 19, 2008, Donovan scored his 35th international goal, a penalty against Sweden, and passed Eric Wynalda as the United States' all-time leading goal scorer. Donovan reached 100 caps at the age of 26 on June 8, 2008, in a friendly against Argentina that ended in a 0–0 draw, and was the fourth-youngest person to do so.[53] Donovan captained the U.S. in the group stage of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup due to Carlos Bocanegra's injury absence. Donovan scored on a penalty kick against Italy, shortly after his team had been reduced to 10 men, and scored for the United States in a 3–2 defeat to Brazil in the final. On October 10, 2009, Donovan scored on a free kick, giving the U.S. a 3–2 victory over Honduras in San Pedro Sula, clinching a berth in the 2010 World Cup.

Donovan played every minute of the U.S. campaign in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He scored against Slovenia with a powerful close-range finish to begin a U.S. comeback for a 2–2 draw,[54] and the only goal in the dying seconds of a 1–0 defeat of Algeria with a finish off a rebounded Clint Dempsey attempt, leading the USA to first place in their World Cup group for the first time since 1930.[55][56] Donovan scored a penalty in the round of 16 against Ghana as the U.S lost 2–1 after extra time and were eliminated from the competition.[57] His goals in South Africa made Donovan the highest scoring American male in World Cup history,[57] and just the third American man to score in more than one World Cup (after Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey).[58] His total of five World Cup goals is the most for any man representing a team from CONCACAF.

After missing the first three World Cup qualifiers of 2013 due to his extended offseason sabbatical, Donovan was left off of the squad by Jürgen Klinsmann for the June qualifying games despite having returned to playing full-time in March.[59] However, Donovan was re-called to the national team for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup to be played in July.[60] On July 5, 2013, Donovan became the first U.S. player to reach the 50 international goal mark and the fourth man in CONCACAF to score 50 international goals after a brace vs Guatemala in a warmup friendly before the Gold Cup.[61][62] Four days later, Donovan became the first player to reach 50 goals and 50 assists for the United States during a 6–1 group stage victory against Belize in which he had one goal and two assists.[11] After the United States won the Gold Cup title with a victory over Panama, Donovan was awarded the tournament's Best Player trophy after tying for the tournament lead with 5 goals scored. Donovan was recalled to the full national squad for the first time in over a year for the USA's September World Cup qualifying matches against Costa Rica and Mexico. Donovan started and played 90 minutes in both games. With the U.S. needing a win over Mexico to clinch qualification, Donovan's corner kick assisted Eddie Johnson's go-ahead goal in the 57th minute. Then, in the 78th minute, Donovan scored off a low cross from Mix Diskerud to make the score 2–0, and effectively seal the win, and the World Cup berth.[63]

In May 2014 Donovan was named in the preliminary squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and joined the team in training camp. However, on May 22, 2014 Donovan was controversially left off of the final US roster by manager Jürgen Klinsmann. Klinsmann called it "one of the toughest decisions in [his] coaching career", but stated that "I just think the other guys right now are a little bit ahead of him".[64] Klinsmann's decision, which was described by media staff as abruptly timed after Klinsmann had previously promised to wait until after the team's friendly matches to announce cuts,[64] saw additional controversy when Klinsmann's son Jonathan published and later deleted a post on Twitter that appeared to ridicule Donovan following the announcement.[65]

On October 10, 2014, Donovan played his 157th and final match for the United States in a friendly against Ecuador in East Hartford, Connecticut. The match was arranged by United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati to give Donovan a proper farewell, despite the disagreement between Donovan and Klinsmann.[66] Following his retirement, he was named by The Guardian as the U.S. team's greatest ever player.[67]

Playing style

Donovan was a versatile attacker known for his pace and stamina as well as intelligence and technical skill, allowing him to play at various forward and midfield positions at different points of his career. His longtime international and club manager Bruce Arena once stated that “the problem with Landon is that he’s your best player at so many positions that you never know where to put him.[68]"

Particularly in the early parts of his career, Donovan played as a withdrawn striker and was most noted for his quickness and goalscoring ability. As his professional career progressed, Donovan was increasingly utilized by managers as a wide attacking midfielder, where he could additionally benefit the team with his passing vision and defensive work rate. Donovan also possessed capable delivery on set pieces (as well as occasionally scoring from direct kicks) and served as first-choice penalty taker for club and country for much of his career.

Personal life

Donovan married actress Bianca Kajlich on December 31, 2006; the couple separated in July 2009,[69] and Donovan filed for divorce in December 2010.[70] In May 2015, he married Hannah Bartell.[71] They welcomed their first child, son Talon, in January 2016.[72] Donovan has spoken publicly about dealing with depression throughout his life and career, and has criticized the professional sports world for its approach to mental health issues.[73]

Since joining the Galaxy Donovan has resided in Manhattan Beach, California. He speaks fluent Spanish, which he learned both in school and through playing in Hispanic clubs and leagues while growing up in Southern California.[74] He also speaks German as a result of his time spent in Germany.[75] After his two brief stints playing for Everton in which he became a fan favorite, Donovan declared himself an "Evertonian for life."[76] Donovan is of Irish descent and his maternal grandmother is from County Kerry.[77]

Coaching career

In July 2015, it was announced that Donovan had been appointed as head coach for a team consisting of young MLS players for the 2015 MLS Homegrown Game.[78] The game took place on July 28, 2015, at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. Donovan led a team of MLS academy graduates, assembled just one day prior, to a 1–1 regulation tie, followed by a 4–5 shootout loss, as reported online.[79] Donovan selected and coached the team a second time in the 2016 edition of the event.

Broadcasting career

After being left off the 2014 FIFA World Cup roster for the United States, Donovan joined the ESPN broadcast team for the World Cup as a studio analyst.[80]

After his retirement, Donovan became a color commentator for FOX Sports, participating in the network's coverage of the United States-Ecuador quarterfinal of the Copa América Centenario.[81]

Career statistics

Club

As of November 6, 2016.[82]
Club Season League Cup Continental1 Other2 Total Ref.
League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bayer Leverkusen II 1999–2000 Regionalliga 20 6 20 6
2000–01 Oberliga 8 3 1 0 9 3 [83]
Totals 28 9 1 0 29 9
San Jose Earthquakes
(loan)
2001 MLS 22 7 2 0 6 5 30 12 [84]
2002 20 7 2 0 2 1 24 8 [84]
2003 22 12 1 0 4 4 27 16 [84]
2004 23 6 3 1 2 0 28 7 [84]
Totals 87 32 8 1 14 10 109 43
Bayer Leverkusen 2004–05 Bundesliga 7 0 0 0 2 0 9 0 [83]
LA Galaxy 2005 MLS 22 12 3 2 4 4 29 18
2006 24 12 3 3 2 1 29 16
2007 25 8 3 1 5 4 33 13
2008 25 20 0 0 25 20
2009 25 12 0 0 4 3 29 15
2010 24 7 0 0 2 0 3 0 29 7
2011 23 12 1 0 8 2 4 3 36 17
2012 26 9 0 0 3 0 5 2 34 11
2013 22 10 0 0 3 0 2 0 27 10
2014 31 10 1 0 5 3 37 13
2016 6 1 0 0 3 0 9 1
Totals 253 113 11 6 18 3 35 19 317 141 [85]
Bayern Munich (loan) 2008–09 Bundesliga 6 0 1 0 0 0 7 0 [83]
Everton (loan) 2009–10 Premier League 10 2 1 0 2 0 13 2 [86]
2011–12 7 0 2 0 9 0 [86]
Totals 17 2 3 0 2 0 22 2
Career totals 398 156 24 7 22 3 49 29 493 195

International

Updated December 14, 2014.[87]
Year Apps Goals
United States
2000 1 1
2001 8 0
2002 20 6
2003 15 7
2004 14 5
2005 15 6
2006 11 0
2007 12 9
2008 9 3
2009 15 5
2010 8 3
2011 10 1
2012 6 3
2013 10 8
2014 3 0
Total 157 57

Honors

Club

San Jose Earthquakes[82]
LA Galaxy[82]

International

United States[82]

Individual

See also

References

  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. March 21, 2014. p. 32. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  2. ^ "MLS Player Profile". Major League Soccer. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  3. ^ "The 25 greatest male US soccer players of all time – interactive". The Guardian. July 24, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  4. ^ Belaska, John (July 3, 2014). "Top 10 Greatest U.S. Soccer Players of All Time". therichest.com. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "FourFourTwo's top 25 players in U.S. men's soccer history: 5-1". fourfourtwo.com. June 1, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  6. ^ Webster, Peter (April 3, 2012). "40 Greatest U.S. Men's Soccer Players of All Time". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  7. ^ "MLS names MVP award after U.S. legend Landon Donovan". ESPN. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  8. ^ "Major League Soccer names Most Valuable Player award after Landon Donovan". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "U.S. Men's National Team Prepares to Kick Off 2009 Confederations Cup Against World Champion Italy". United States Football Federation. Chicago. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved June 25, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "FIFA makes Donovan's record official". ESPN. New York. February 29, 2008. Archived from the original on July 10, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ a b Itel, Dan. "Gold Cup: Another game, another milestone as Landon Donovan continues USMNT comeback". Major League Soccer. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  12. ^ "Donovan, Wambach, Agbossoumonde and Henninger Voted 2010 U.S. Soccer Athletes of the Year". U.S. Soccer. December 20, 2010. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Donovan wins sixth Honda Award". ESPN. Los Angeles. Associated Press. October 20, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  14. ^ Rosenblatt, Ryan (March 3, 2017). "Landon Donovan joins ownership group trying to bring MLS expansion team to San Diego". FOX Sports. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Landon Donovan Biography". JockBio. March 4, 1982. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  16. ^ Landon Donovan (March 4, 1982). "Landon Donovan Profile, Statistics, News, Game Log – Los Angeles, USA Major League Soccer – ESPN Soccernet". ESPN. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved June 26, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Residency Program". US Soccer. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Rogers, Martin. "The day Donovan's career almost ended". G.sports.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010. Retrieved June 26, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "Landon Donovan: Home is where the heart is". PlayerPress.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Landon Donovan". Landon Donovan. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010. Retrieved June 26, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "Los Angeles Galaxy mini bios". Major League Soccer. November 10, 2005. Archived from the original on March 18, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
  22. ^ a b "U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year". National Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 26, 2007.
  23. ^ "Galaxy trade Ruiz to Dallas, Donovan returning to L.A.?". USA Today. Carson, California. Associated Press. March 30, 2005. Retrieved June 26, 2007.
  24. ^ Nierman, Jonathan (November 11, 2005). "MLS All-Time Best XI team unveiled". Major League Soccer. Frisco, Texas. Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
  25. ^ a b "Landon Donovan". Los Angeles Galaxy. Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008. Retrieved October 29, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Dominic Fifield in New Jersey (July 16, 2009). "David Beckham warns LA Galaxy he will go on loan again | Football | guardian.co.uk". The Guardian. London. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  27. ^ Ian Rose. "Donovan Sets LA Galaxy Scoring Record; theoffside.com". TheOffside. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "Galaxy defeats Dynamo, 1–0, to win championship". Los Angeles Times. November 20, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  29. ^ "Landon Donovan eyes break from soccer". ESPN. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  30. ^ "Landon Donovan breaks MLS record for goals scored". CBS Interactive. May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  31. ^ Wild, Karlheinz (November 11, 2008). "Donovan zum FC Bayern?" (in German). kicker.
  32. ^ "Bayern borrow Landon Donovan from Galaxy". ESPN. November 20, 2008.
  33. ^ "Donovan will return to LA Galaxy". Los Angeles Galaxy. March 5, 2009. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved June 25, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "Donovan unlikely to extend with Bayern". Associated Press. February 17, 2009. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved June 25, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ "Toffees Confirm Donovan Deal". Sky Sports. December 18, 2009. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  36. ^ "Landon Donovan 'could opt for Fulham loan transfer over Everton return'". metro.co.uk. December 13, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  37. ^ Bould, Giulia (March 14, 2010). "Donovan Returns to LA". Everton F.C. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  38. ^ "Galaxy: Donovan Not Staying At Everton". FIFA. March 5, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
  39. ^ "Landon Donovan returns to US after loan spell at Everton ends". The Guardian. March 14, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  40. ^ "Everton agree deal to bring Landon Donovan on loan from LA Galaxy". The Guardian. December 15, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
  41. ^ Rodriguez, Alicia (September 8, 2016). "Landon Donovan officially comes out of retirement, signs with LA Galaxy". mlssoccer.com.
  42. ^ a b "Landon Donovan ends retirement to rejoin LA Galaxy". espnfc.us. September 8, 2016.
  43. ^ "Landon Donovan's official Facebook account". September 8, 2016.
  44. ^ "Los Angeles Galaxy 4–2 Orlando City". mlssoccer.com. September 11, 2016.
  45. ^ "Watch: Landon Donovan returns to MLS in substitute appearance for LA Galaxy". mlssoccer.com. September 11, 2016.
  46. ^ "Landon Donovan scores equalizer as Galaxy rallies to tie Sporting KC". kansascity.com. September 18, 2016.
  47. ^ "Landon Donovan retires from Major League Soccer, again". LATimes.com. December 6, 2016.
  48. ^ "Profile: Landon Donovan". Soccertimes.com. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  49. ^ "Donovan's Grief".
  50. ^ "Marvin Lee passes away". newsday.co.tt. March 10, 2003.
  51. ^ "Hyundai Best Young Player Award: 2002 Landon Donovan (USA)". Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ Stephenson, Colin (May 19, 2010). "After disappointment of 2006, American star Landon Donovan feels prepared for World Cup". nj.com. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  53. ^ "Landon Donovan". U.S. Soccer. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  54. ^ Ornstein, David (June 18, 2010). "Slovenia 2–2 USA". BBC Sport. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  55. ^ "USA-Algeria – The matches of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa". FIFA.com. June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  56. ^ Blum, Ronald. US advances at World Cup with 1–0 win, Associated Press, June 23, 2010.
  57. ^ a b Fletcher, Paul (June 26, 2010). "USA 1–2 Ghana (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  58. ^ Dempsey was the second American to score in more than one World Cup during the first match with England. The following match was against Slovenia, in which Donovan scored the first goal, thus making him the third.
  59. ^ Whiteside, Kelly (May 16, 2013). "Landon Donovan left off World Cup qualifier roster". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  60. ^ "Donovan on USA Gold Cup roster". Fox Sports. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  61. ^ "USMNT 6, Guatemala 0 | International Friendly Match Recap". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  62. ^ Cardillo, Julian. "U.S. beats Guatemala 6–0, but players need proving". Boston.com. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  63. ^ "U.S. MNT Qualifies for 2014 World Cup in Brazil with 2–0 Victory Against Mexico at Sold-Out Columbus Crew Stadium". ussoccer.com. September 10, 2013. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  64. ^ a b Baxter, Kevin (May 22, 2014). "What's behind Landon Donovan being left off U.S. World Cup roster". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  65. ^ Firchau, Nick (May 23, 2014). "World Cup: Jurgen Klinsmann says son owes Landon Donovan "huge apology" for controversial tweets". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  66. ^ Keh, Andrew (October 10, 2014). "Proper Farewell, Despite Potential for Awkwardness". The New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  67. ^ "The 25 greatest male US soccer players of all time – interactive". The Guardian. July 24, 2015.
  68. ^ O'Halloran, John (August 8, 2013). "Landon Donvan's Tactical Evolution and His Best Use for the USMNT". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  69. ^ Ingrassia, Lisa (July 17, 2009). "Bianca Kajlich and Soccer Star Landon Donovan Split". People. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  70. ^ Macht, Daniel (December 23, 2010). "No Reconciliation: Landon Donovan Files for Divorce". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  71. ^ Serrano, Adam (May 5, 2015). "Donovan shares news of his wedding on social media". Los Angeles Galaxy. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  72. ^ Leon, Anya (January 27, 2016). "Landon Donovan Welcomes Son Talon". People!. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  73. ^ Firchau, Nick (January 4, 2015). "Landon Donovan's Other Legacy: Challenging the stigma of mental health". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  74. ^ "U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan". USA Today. May 18, 2005. Retrieved April 18, 2010.
  75. ^ "Chandler making rapid progress for club and country". Yahoo sports. April 1, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  76. ^ "Donovan an Evertonian for life". Liverpool Echo. January 4, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  77. ^ "Irish American hero saves the day for America's World Cup dream". IrishCentral. June 23, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  78. ^ "Landon Donovan to coach MLS team at 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game". MLSsoccer.com. July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  79. ^ "Chipotle MLS Homegrowns fall on penalty kicks to Club América in Landon Donovan coaching debut". MLSsoccer.com. July 28, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  80. ^ Chase, Chris (June 11, 2014). "ESPN hires Landon Donovan for World Cup coverage". USA Today. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  81. ^ "FOX Sports Scores U.S. Soccer Icon Landon Donovan for Copa America Coverage" (Press release). FOX Sports. June 11, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  82. ^ a b c d Landon Donovan at Soccerway
  83. ^ a b c "Landon Donovan". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  84. ^ a b c d "Landon Donovan". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  85. ^ "Landon Donovan". Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  86. ^ a b "Landon Donovan » Club matches". World Football. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  87. ^ "Landon Donovan – National Football Teams profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  88. ^ "2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan: Report and Statistics" (PDF). FIFA.com. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
Sporting positions
Preceded by LA Galaxy captain
2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by
David Beckham
LA Galaxy captain
2009–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by USA captain
2012–2013
Succeeded by