MLS 2016-17: Landon Donovan comes out of retirement to rejoin LA Galaxy
Major League Soccer’s all-time top scorer and assist leader, Landon Donovan made the surprise announcement of joining the LA Galaxy, which was confirmed by club officials on Thursday. Having retired when he was 32, he returns to his former club in the midst of an injury crisis.
With players such as Zardes on the sidelines, along with former Liverpool midfielder, Steven Gerrard, the team has been short of some attacking options and it seems the LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, has been able to convince Donovan to come out of his retirement.
Donovan has been one of the former fan favourites and is a well-known face of American football, having graced EA Sports’ FIFA (US) covers as well. The player confirmed that he had held talks with the current coach as to his role in the team and how the American could be able to contribute to the team.
Donovan is also the leading all-time scorer for the United States National team and was an integral part of the squad having represented his country in three editions of the FIFA World Cup over the course of the career. Donovan who has had exposure in European football starting out his professional career with Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich as well as Everton in the Premier League.
Glittering career in the MLS
Over the course of his career, he has also won half a dozen MLS Cups and his current return is to help LA Galaxy achieve another MLS Cup. He had retired after helping Galaxy achieve their fourth MLS Cup of the Donovan era and is returning in their quest to win the title this season as well.
In a Facebook post, Landon Donovan, took the time to explain how he had come to this decision and he stated the importance of this decision having been close to the club as a player. A former fan favourite, he also stated how the glut of injuries for the Galaxy also helped him make his mind up.
Nigel de Jong also left the club in the transfer window to join Galatasaray, further reducing the number of fit stars the Galaxy had.
Bruce Arena, the current LA Galaxy coach, will hope that Donovan can fire the side to the championship with six games remaining in the stretch run before the playoffs begin.