America’s Soccer Great Flies Under USA’s Sports Radar

By Phil Meyers

As the United States participation in the 2010 FIFA World Cup drew to a recent end, one star that continued to shine was attacking American playmaker Landon Donovan. Donovan managed to score three goals during the Red, White, and Blue’s four match run, including one of the tournament’s finest markers in a 2-2 tie versus Slovenia—a tally which sparked a truly historic, although quite truncated and controversial comeback in USA soccer history.

Donovan, who now is the USA all-time goals-scored leader with 45 in 127 matches, has his eyes set on the future—and where it will lead, be it long-term with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, or abroad—through a likely return destination to the Premier League in England.

Following a very successful three-month loan spell with Liverpool-based team Everton, the 28 year-old found it very difficult to depart “the Motherland” last campaign in what is widely considered the top domestic league on the planet—coming back to his registered team, the Galaxy.

Donovan, despite all of his soccer talent and accomplishment, has yet to receive the accolades this 5’8” player deserves—however—instead having to settle into a backseat-like role as a quiet star on the United States sporting landscape. Often regarded as the greatest American soccer player in country history, Landon fortunately began to emerge out from under that eclipsing shadow in South Africa this month—endorsement opportunities and greater paydays in the likely offing.

As millions in our nation ponder and debate where the likes of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and others will call their NBA offices home, so too speculates Donovan, a man who too must select his playing destination with a very weighted thoughtfulness.

Emerging club and financial power Manchester City has recently voiced their interest in the Ontario, California native, but ideally that isn’t the best place for Landon’s long-term growth—City having a tendency to play the “flavor-of-the-month,” or the latest “fancy toy” they recently purchased. Also with certain interest would be Everton, the locale where Donovan excelled last season from January through March 2010, with a side that is quite competitive and annually at the top half of the English Premiership standings. Too, he would be reunited with number one American goalie and teammate Tim Howard, starter for the Blue-and-White of Toffee prowess.

Other options include fellow quality English side Aston Villa, currently owned by the Lerner family who also maintains control of the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. Either Everton, or a place like Villa would be best for Donovan—a good team that will allow Landon to play big minutes without looking over his shoulder at a potential benching with the slightest downturn in form.

Or—Donovan can stay in the States with the Galaxy, remaining America’s domestic ambassador for the game, and allowing USA fans to see their hero travel the country’s borders. Even if this option is enticing as a marketing tool, however, it does little to help the player or the national team’s long-term future for success. Rather than have players such as the able Donovan and others stay at home, he and his domestic mates must go overseas and weekly play amongst the best in the world—improving for future competitions. Players of French, Dutch, and South American decent do the same regularly, so why should the same be so wrong here?

No matter the case, the physically diminutive Landon Donovan showed the United States and the world that he has the wherewithal to compete with the finest the World Cup has to offer. And at this time of our nation’s soccer standing, such a fact is satisfying on its own.