Sometimes it was hard to figure out which Landon would show up. The passionate and fiery one from Gold Cup 2013, or the disinterested one from before the sabbatical.
Editor’s Note: We asked TYAC writers and soccer voices to share their thoughts on Landon Donovan’s exceptional career. This is one of those pieces, from TYAC contributor Connor Walsh.
Landon Donovan is set to make his final farewell tonight against Ecuador. It’s been a career rife with monumental highs and perplexing lows. He has been proclaimed a hero and cast aside as a villain, often in the same calendar year (and don’t even get me started on the rollercoaster ride that was the 2014 World Cup cycle). This is, that was, just Landon’s story.
The highs: absolute dominance of Mexico in the 2002 World Cup, the magic of the 2009 Confederations Cup run, the sheer bedlam of the 2010 World Cup against Algeria. We praised his name, proclaimed him the savior of US Soccer. Then the failures: not establishing himself in Europe (multiple tries), the disappointment of the 2006 World Cup, the baffling four month long sabbatical to Cambodia in 2012-2013 and ultimately his exclusion from the 2014 World Cup roster. We chastised him a coward and a can’t-hack-it.
Put it together, and you begin to understand how Landon Donovan can be called “Landy-cakes” and “Mexico Killer” in the same sentence.
Sometimes it was hard to figure out which Landon would show up. The passionate and fiery one from Gold Cup 2013, or the disinterested and distant one from before the sabbatical.
There is no doubt that Donovan’s mark on Major League Soccer and the United States National Team is profoundly positive. He leads major categories for club, league and the national team in goals and assists. It’s easy to respect stats. Someone wants to talk smack about LD10? Drop the stats-bomb in their face and it will shut them up long enough to get your beer from the bar and move away. But even the most steadfast Landon apologists, deep down, know that he could’ve been so much more, if he wanted to. I find myself in this category.
Outstanding player? Absolutely.
The best he could have been? …a sheepish, muted no.
The fact is that his desire to challenge himself has always been called in to question. He failed at Bayer Leverkusen and subsequently moved to sunny California and outside of a few loans to Bayern Munich and Everton, he’s never been back. He tallied 30 official appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, and Everton, and only scored 2 goals. And as praised as the first loan to Everton rightfully was; the second loan has been overvalued. He helped, but wasn’t nearly as dynamic as the first trip.
But what if that’s okay? What if being a dominant player in your domestic league and playing above your level internationally, on a consistent basis, is enough? In that light, his career looks remarkable. So do the statistics.
Donovan seemed content being Beckham’s sidekick, at least to many of the fans who came to see Beckham play.
Major League Soccer
331 Appearances (14th all time)
144 Goals (1st)
136 Assists (1st)
5 MLS Cups (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012)
2 MLS Supporters Shields (2010, 2011)
MLS Most Valuable Player (2009)
United States National Team
156 Caps (2nd all time)
57 Goals (1st)
58 Assists (1st)
4 CONCACAF Gold Cups (2002, 2005, 2007, 2013)
This list leaves out the three World Cup appearances, and the numerous individual awards he’s won over his career. Such a list is well worthy of the carrier being dubbed “The Best American Player Ever”, or at least fair consideration, right? There are some who would answer no. Donovan has never really fit in to the “superstar” category, namely because of his initial failure and subsequent reluctance in taking on Europe. He chose the comforts of California instead, rejected the spotlight and rarely endorsed products. One might argue that Donovan played his best soccer when David Beckham was a member of the Galaxy, allowing Donovan to avoid the spotlight and focus solely on his play on the field.
It’s almost as if soccer has been somewhat of a burden to Donovan, more of a job than a career. Like he could call up Bruce Arena, Don Garber and Jurgen Klinsmann on the same day and tell them he’s leaving (which he did in 2012). Think about if Michael Jordan or Brett Favre ever just phoned up and said “I’m gonna take the year off guys”. There would be rioting and pandemonium in the streets of Chicago and Green Bay. ESPN anchors would sit on air and whimper. Hell, it took Jordan two miserly years with the Wizards to call it quits and I’m fairly certain Favre had to be dragged away from the NFL before he died on the field. But with Landon, it felt like his retirement announcement lifted an incredible burden off his shoulders. I’m not at all convinced the great soccer he’s playing right now isn’t directly correlated to that burden being gone. Free and easy, for for the first time in ages.
I’m fairly sure that Sunil Gulati had to persuade Landon to accept a call-up for this farewell match against Ecuador. Landon undoubtedly would’ve preferred none of the pomp and circumstance. Even U.S. Soccer’s announcement that Landon would start as the captain, and be subbed off in the 30th minute feels like Landon going out with as little fanfare as possible.
The aura surrounding Donovan is one of utter respect for what he’s accomplished, but also utter confusion for what he hasn’t, not because he wasn’t capable of doing it, but because fair or unfair, it felt sometimes like he just didn’t want to.
Connor Walsh is a longtime contributor to The Yanks Are Coming. Follow him on Twitter at @USAGunnerWalsh.