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World Cup Profile: Landon Donovan- USA
Position: Midfield
Club: L.A. Galaxy/ Everton
D.O.B: 4 March 1982
Feb 1, 2010 12:05:00 AM
Landon Donovan - The 27-year-old has been considered the USA's best outfield player since the retirement of Claudio Reyna. He will likely vie for the title of 'best USA player ever' before his career is done.
After a sterling youth career that saw him win the Golden Ball trophy in the 1999 FIFA U17 World Cup, Donovan earned his first cap for the USA in 2000, scoring a goal against Mexico in his debut. He went on to dominate the decade in USA Soccer, winning Player of the Year a record six times. Despite still being in his twenties, he holds the American record for goals scored, assists notched and has well over 100 caps for the USA.
The small, but speedy player has turned in stints in different attacking roles for the USA. Primarily a striker in his youth days, Donovan has also played in the central midfield role and on both sides of the midfield. Many see his best position as that of a withdrawn striker, playing behind a primary target.
Donovan's talent for using his quickness and ball control to beat players is often noted. He is fairly accurate on set pieces, famed for his stamina and surprisingly good at scoring headers, such as the one he notched against Mexico in the 2002 World Cup.
One knock against Donovan from certain detractors is his club success, or lack thereof. Though he has three league championships to his credit, he earned them all in Major League Soccer (two with the San Jose Earthquakes and one with the LA Galaxy). Donovan's club career started in Germany at 16, but coaching changes and a lack of playing time at Bayer Leverkusen frustrated the young player. He was eventually able to negotiate a long-term loan to MLS, where he immediately established himself as one of the league's top players. A return to Leverkusen in 2004 proved unsuccessful. Donovan returned to MLS in 2005, when the Los Angeles Galaxy bought his contract from Leverkusen outright. In 2010, Donovan's loan to Everton helped him gain experience in the world's top league.
Donovan was roundly criticized for not contributing more to the USA effort in the 2006 World Cup. He played inconsistently as the Americans crashed out in the group stage. Yet Donovan was also a key performer in the USA's Confederations Cup run in 2009, helping the USA reach the final.
Did You Know? Donovan has a twin sister, Tristan.
Awards:
FIFA U-17 World Championship Golden Ball: 1999
CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2002, 2003, 2005
U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2009
Honda Player of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009
Major League Soccer MVP: 2009
MLS Golden Boot: 2008
MLS All-Time Best XI
After a sterling youth career that saw him win the Golden Ball trophy in the 1999 FIFA U17 World Cup, Donovan earned his first cap for the USA in 2000, scoring a goal against Mexico in his debut. He went on to dominate the decade in USA Soccer, winning Player of the Year a record six times. Despite still being in his twenties, he holds the American record for goals scored, assists notched and has well over 100 caps for the USA.
The small, but speedy player has turned in stints in different attacking roles for the USA. Primarily a striker in his youth days, Donovan has also played in the central midfield role and on both sides of the midfield. Many see his best position as that of a withdrawn striker, playing behind a primary target.
Donovan's talent for using his quickness and ball control to beat players is often noted. He is fairly accurate on set pieces, famed for his stamina and surprisingly good at scoring headers, such as the one he notched against Mexico in the 2002 World Cup.
One knock against Donovan from certain detractors is his club success, or lack thereof. Though he has three league championships to his credit, he earned them all in Major League Soccer (two with the San Jose Earthquakes and one with the LA Galaxy). Donovan's club career started in Germany at 16, but coaching changes and a lack of playing time at Bayer Leverkusen frustrated the young player. He was eventually able to negotiate a long-term loan to MLS, where he immediately established himself as one of the league's top players. A return to Leverkusen in 2004 proved unsuccessful. Donovan returned to MLS in 2005, when the Los Angeles Galaxy bought his contract from Leverkusen outright. In 2010, Donovan's loan to Everton helped him gain experience in the world's top league.
Donovan was roundly criticized for not contributing more to the USA effort in the 2006 World Cup. He played inconsistently as the Americans crashed out in the group stage. Yet Donovan was also a key performer in the USA's Confederations Cup run in 2009, helping the USA reach the final.
Did You Know? Donovan has a twin sister, Tristan.
Awards:
FIFA U-17 World Championship Golden Ball: 1999
CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2002, 2003, 2005
U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2009
Honda Player of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009
Major League Soccer MVP: 2009
MLS Golden Boot: 2008
MLS All-Time Best XI
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