Landon Donovan

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Lore & Background

Donovan signed for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen in 1999, though the majority of his club time was spent on loan with the San Jose Earthquakes of MLS, winning the MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003. In 2005, Donovan moved back to the United States permanently to sign with the Los Angeles Galaxy, winning the MLS Cup in 2005 and the MLS Golden Boot in 2008. In 2009, he returned to Germany for a loan with league champions Bayern Munich, and twice went on short loans to Premier League club Everton in 2010 and 2012, winning his fourth MLS Cup between the loans in 2011. He returned to LA Galaxy and won the MLS Cup twice more in 2012 and 2014. He retired as a player in 2014, but made a brief comeback with Galaxy late in the 2016 season and then in 2018 to play for Mexican club León. He further played one season with the San Diego Sockers of the Major Arena Soccer League.

In Their Own Story

In October 2012, Donovan converted a penalty kick in the 65th minute of the MLS Cup final to give LA Galaxy a 2–1 lead over Houston. The goal was his fifth in MLS Cup Finals as the team won 3–1.

Reader's Guide

Donovan represented his country in several youth levels; winning the Golden Ball of the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He made his senior debut for the United States national team in 2000. He is the all-time leader in assists, tied with Clint Dempsey as the all-time leader in scoring, and is the second-most capped player of his country (157). He is the only American player to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark. He starred in the U.S. team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup where he received the FIFA Best Young Player Award, becoming the first and only North American (CONCACAF) recipient, and was named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team as a reserve. He is the highest-scoring American player in World Cup history (5), scoring in the 2002 and 2010 editions. Donovan was runner-up of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and scored in the final. He won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2013; winning the MVP award of the 2013 edition and the Golden Boot award of the 2003, 2005, and 2013 editions. Individually, he is tied for the record of four U.S. Soccer Player of the Year awards with Christian Pulisic, and is the only seven-time winner of the Fútbol de Primera Player of the Year award. Donovan was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2023.

Did You Know?

• Donovan was born in Ontario, California, and holds Canadian citizenship through his father.
• He scored seven goals in his first organized match at age six.
• Donovan is the only American player to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark for the national team.
• He won the FIFA Best Young Player Award at the 2002 World Cup.

Global Career Trajectory and Club Achievements

Donovan signed with German club Bayer Leverkusen in 1999 but spent most of his early career on loan with the San Jose Earthquakes, winning MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003. In 2005, he moved permanently to LA Galaxy, becoming the league's all-time assists leader with 136 and leading the team to MLS Cup victories in 2005, 2011, 2012, and 2014. He won the MLS Golden Boot in 2008 and was named MVP of the 2009 season. Between domestic successes, he loaned to Bayern Munich in 2009 and Everton in 2010 and 2012. The Major League Soccer MVP Award has been renamed the Landon Donovan MVP Award in his honor.

International Dominance and National Team Legacy

Donovan made his senior debut for the United States in 2000, earning 157 caps to become the second-most capped player in U.S. history. He is tied with Clint Dempsey for the most international goals by a male U.S. player (57) and was the all-time top assist provider in international football (58) until 2023. He is the only American to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark. Donovan scored five World Cup goals, the most for an American, in the 2002 and 2010 editions. In 2002, he helped the U.S. reach the quarter-finals, receiving the FIFA Best Young Player Award as the first North American to do so. He won four CONCACAF Gold Cups (2002, 2005, 2007, 2013), earning MVP in 2013 and Golden Boots in 2003, 2005, and 2013. He is tied with Christian Pulisic for four U.S. Soccer Player of the Year awards.

Formative Years and Youth Development

Born on March 4, 1982, in Ontario, California, to Donna Kenney-Cash and Tim Donovan, Landon has a twin sister named Tristan. Raised in Redlands, he attended Redlands East Valley High School. He began organized soccer at age six, scoring seven goals in his first match. A member of the Cal Heat club in Rancho Cucamonga, he joined the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program in 1997. In 1999, he attended IMG Academy as part of the inaugural class of the U.S. Soccer youth residency program. He was named Player of the Tournament for the U-17 squad that finished fourth at the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship, where he won the Golden Ball.

Retirement, Comebacks, and Coaching Transition

Donovan retired as a player in 2014 but made brief comebacks with LA Galaxy late in the 2016 season and with Mexican club León in 2018. He also played one season with the San Diego Sockers of the Major Arena Soccer League. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2023. Most recently, he served as the interim head coach of San Diego Wave FC of the NWSL.