Los Angeles Galaxy and U.S. men's national team star Landon Donovan will not be going on loan this winter, he and the Galaxy announced on Tuesday.
“While I enjoyed my time at Everton last season and still appreciate all the support their fans have given me, I feel that it is important to continue to rest and recover this offseason as opposed to going on loan,” Donovan said. “I never considered being loaned to a club other than Everton, but I have been playing nearly non-stop for the past two years and I believe that this decision will allow me to perform at my best for the Galaxy and the National Team throughout the upcoming year.
"I look forward to re-joining my Galaxy teammates for the start of preseason training next month and beginning our quest for another MLS Cup championship.”
Donovan went on loan to Everton last winter, but will pass on a chance to return to Europe this off-season, choosing instead to stay with the Galaxy heading into the 2011 season.
What do you think of this development?
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and I don’t know about you, but most folks I know who are good at what they do aren’t really “comfortable”. they are working their assess off and surrounded by folks who are constantly telling them all the reasons why they shouldn’t do the very thing it is that makes them great (kind of like what we’re doing here!)
Except Steven Pienaar, Jack Rodwell, and Marouane Fellaini have all been linked to go elsewhere as early as this winter transfer period.
David Moyes will have money to spend because he knows talent. They can’t keep all the talent on that roster with their pursestrings. Expect some sales to happen, but don’t count on LD to jump. MLS wants (and frankly needs) him to badly.
you could also argue that just as many people seem to hold the opinion that he owes them to stay in MLS.
the topic was is this a good idea or a bad idea. i think people are giving their opinions.
the best!!??? WRONG…I think there is some guy who has been playing a couple of years in the Premier League, at a high level, by the name of Clint Dempsey…you might of heard of him. It seems like everyone on this blog has the belief, that just because you are not the poster child of the MLS, that you are not qualified to be considered the best American player.
“Americans have already made strides overseas, and particularly in England”.
uummm….Please currently name the countless americans who are playing at a high level in Europe and have survived over a year with a team…we have alot to prove yet, trust me..that is why I am excited with our next crop of young players, who will prove that we can produce great players in this country.
no i’m not and neither am I
Lame-duck.
you don’t have to go to Europe to be the best if that is not what you really want to do in your heart!
Sorry pal, but that is polly-anna, mamby bamby bullsh*t. If you want to be the best you go to where the best go.
No one would have patted Sammy Sosa on the back for playing baseball in South America because he liked it there.
Secondly, lots of players fizzle instead of sizzle at clubs. But LD at Everton was SIH-ZUL.
This is a world sport, and while America is growing, our league is home to little fish. That’s not Eurosnobbery, it’s reality.
“Dempsey has balls and drive, Donovan simply does not”
Interesting. And how much balls does it take to post about someone else’s life and career choices on an internet message board?
Not the point? Well, what do you do for a living? Care to give us some background? Maybe we can all criticize you for the choices you’ve made and imply they are the result of a damming character flaw? And then maybe –even better — we can compare you unfavorably to a peer of yours (hint, luckily for Deuce, Clint Dempsey is not your peer).
And FWIW, I’m not sure you or anyone else has the right to be “pissed” (your words) at decisions that Landon Donovan takes in his career. It makes it sound as if you are attempting to live vicariously through him. If that’s in fact the case, it says more about your “balls” than his.
+1. Poor Landon, being forced to sign that contract extension! FORCED! Against his will!
yeah, stupid Beckham, not committed to US soccer. It’s unpatriotic!
yeah I can just see it now, “c’mon Landon, we need you to slog out another year at the top of the table only to have that wiped away come playoff time”
please.
“He wouldn’t be accomplishing anything significant.”
Really? did you forget what a sensation his loan to Everton was last year? it was freking epic. to see that much excitement generated over an american playing on a mid-club team was quite a splash.
I understand that he needs rest and I accept that he needs it sooner rather than later, but do you honestly believe he is at the pinnacle of his career, as that’s what I essentially read into that statement.
I think LD has more potential to grow the US sport by going abroad and I think that the fact that MLS and USSF have made him their poster boy (as opposed to Dempsey or Howard) while offering a certain payoff, will ultimately prove to be a bit of a glass ceiling for him, as I don’t think any club will meet MLS’s asking price.
Love Landon for his commitment to MLS….
he will go down in history as the first great player in a league that will be huge someday.
I’m not sure why so many people think that Landon Donvon owes it to them to play in the EPL. He only needs to answer to himself. Adults make decisions all of the time that put quality of living and happiness above pure financial gain. Commonly its a good choice.
Guess what. He likes California, and he likes supporting MLS. MLS is obivously not at EPL level, yet he still plays at the highest level in international matches on a consistent basis. Further, thanks to people like Landon MLS gets better and stronger every year.
I am not sure about the “nothing to prove” theory, yes he did well in Everton for a couple of weeks, but that is different than a whole season in where you are playing 80+ games, other tournaments, and some in brutal winter weather. The reality is that Donovan will only be an MLS star, out of comfort…that question of “what if” will always arise. But I am not stressing it…the next generation of players will go to that next level.
He looked gassed after the wc and never was at 100%, hope he rests well and wins the GC for us this year.
I understand that its fun to watch an American showcase his ability abroad, but what I don’t understand is the logic that it is good for US Soccer.
Don’t we want our best players playing here in the States? In Donovan’s case, don’t we want our stars to be healthy and focused? Nobody is going to respect us if our best player breaks down halfway into the domestic season and trots around for 10 games.
Anyways, good move for Dono and the league. Our season starts in 3 months.
Well if it is my kids then I will want him to look up to both of them.
LD for following his dreams and not falling to the pressure of people like yourself. Instead he is the best player in America helping our own league strive forward and showing the kids(5-10) that you don’t have to go to Europe to be the best if that is not what you really want to do in your heart!
I’ll also tell them to look up to Clint Dempsey for being a great player that started and began developing his playing in MLS and then going over to a great league in Europe and finding a place he is comfortable with so he could thrive just like LD in his career and then hopefully coming home like McBride to finish his career in front of his family and friends.
This argument come ups all the time and gets old. The answer is the same every time to. For anyone in any profession to be the best they can be they need a lot of things but the top 2 are the desire/passion/drive and comfortable surroundings. Both these players and all players have chosen what is right for them not Dave. The world is littered with guys that have done what guys like Dave want them to do for him and have digressed in their careers because of it.
LD in Germany
Robinho at Man City
Ronaldinho at AC Milan
Freddy Adu at Benefica/Monaco/Aris/the list goes on unfortunately
Good for Landon. He’s proven he can excel at the WC and in the EPL. He can do what he wants. Personally, I’m just geeked to have another chance to see a truly elite player in person just by hopping on the bus down to Qwest in March. And hopefully this is just one more sign to players both domestic and international that MLS is no longer a league you need to flee for greener pastures first chance you get.
Dude: Count up the number of all-caps words you’ve used. Count up the number of exclamation points you’ve used. If the total is greater than 10, you need to step away from the keyboard and meditate or something…
“all of *you* on here are borderline insane”?
Last season he was training at the home depot to be matchfit in Jan. during his winter break now he is just resting.
I don’t know how his body feels, so I can’t really comment on whether he needs time off. Maybe he feels he won’t perform at a high level in England, without more rest?
Otherwise, I’d say it’s a poor call. I’d rather see him do what Beckham was doing, getting loaned out for the rest of the EPL season. He could rest up and return to MLS in July.
As for the national team, I’m sure he and the team would only benefit if he gets more time playing at a high level. I’m sure everyone wants to win the Gold Cup and get another shot at the Confederations Cup — but the real game is the ’14 World Cup, not the ’13 Confed. Cup.
unlike another galaxy player
I apologize but this has me seriously HOT right now. This is the same psychosis exhibited by people that think that this summer’s world cup was a SUCCESS for the US and that Bob Bradley DESERVED to get his place back.
WAKE UP!!!!!!!
I understand that Donovan has been playing non-stop since Jan of this year, but what about Nov-Dec? The EPL only has about 2 months off from the end of one season to the start of training for the next season every year. And Donovan took 6 weeks off last year (Nov-Dec), and has had Nov-Dec off this year. How is that playing “non-stop”. At most, he has only played a few weeks more than players do every year in the EPL. Also, every single EPL player that played in the world cup this year has played “non-stop”. LD may not want to go to Europe and that is his decision. But I don’t really understand how he is playing “non-stop” more than most EPL players.
And all of you on here are borderline insane…for real
Everton is close to the bottom of the table. Nothing to gain if he is committed to the upcoming MLS season and Gold Cup.
This is why Donovan is villifed by so many and will be remembered more for being almost-great but never actually quite great (and by great, I mean international soccer superstar). My beef is that I believe that Landon has the ability to be a GENUINE International Superstar, and he is PASSING on the opportunity…why? because he’s tired? It’s been over a month since the season ended, he could get 2-3 weeks to rest up before returning to training-this is RIDICULOUS.
Those of you on here that say that Americans have nothing left to prove in England, what the F*** are you talking about? We have 1 established out-field player in England-Clint Dempsey(sorry Stu, not yet buddy…you think Clint would pass on the opportunity to move to England? HELL NO!!!! Know why? Dempsey has balls and drive, Donovan simply does not. Harkes, Joe-Max, and Captain America were established but hardly more than squad players.
The idea that this is good for the Galaxy and MLS is RIDICULOUS….absolutely ridiculous. I hate this and I think Donovan is wasting his prime, and wasting an opportunity for himself and for the game here in the USA. What’s a kid in 5-10 years who is coming up and playing the game going to be more excited about, that guy who was awesome in the MLS? Or Clint Dempsey scoring 40 goals in the EPL? RIDDLE ME THAT…pissed.
And eurosnobs everywhere wept…
In reality, two days ago I would have liked this news. Instead, yesterday, MLS announces that we host the Gals first kick and my immediate reaction was to hope they loan out Donovan, loan out Beckham, sell Buddle, and fail to come to terms with JPA.
Ah well, good for Landon – he probably needs to stay in town after those pix of his Mrs. in Maxim.
I’m glad. Tear MLS a new one next year Landycakes, and win back the Gold Cup! While you’re at it, find an elite lady beach volleyball player who needs a baby, and do the US a solid or three!
totally understandable. looked like he was running out of gas last season, and who knows how many niggling injuries he’s recovering from with the # of miles on those legs. hopefully he’ll be fresh and in form for the gold cup.
That said, it’s really sad not to see our greatest player battle it out at the highest club level. the commitment to the galaxy is commendable, but a bummer for this fan.
How is he handcuffed to MLS. he signed the contract and could easily coax a move if he really chose to.
+1
I’m pretty sure Donovan would be at the top of David Moyes’ wish list. Unfortunately, he has no money to spend, at all. The only way Donovan goes to Everton is if Everton sells someone, which doesn’t look likely.
Handcuffed to MLS by MLS, if he ever spends meaningful time in Europe it will be after MLS has taken his best seasons. Really sad for our greatest player.
This is disappointing but it is what it is. Hopefully, the Galaxy didn’t pressure him to turn down the loan.
It’s not all about money. His entire life has been based in California, with the exception of brief loans in England and Germany. His family and friends are all there, and he realizes that he is not getting any younger (not that 29 is old, mind you). He could go to England for a couple years, but so what? He wouldn’t be accomplishing anything significant. Americans have already made strides overseas, and particularly in England. We have nothing to prove over there. He would be a fine ambassador for us, yes, but at this point in his career and in U.S. soccer’s development, it’d be superfluous. Staying in MLS will allow him to remain close to his friends and family, as well as rest up for an eventful summer (Gold Cup which determines who goes to the Confed Cup in 2013, Galaxy appear to be preparing for a big MLS Cup surge). He has been playing non-stop for several years now, and deserves the time off. And he knows that going to Europe would do almost nothing for him at this point in his career, and recognizes that the Gals need him more.
Money or not, America is where Landon Donovan’s future lies. He does not need to prove anything to anyone anymore; he has already shown us time and again that he is the best that the United States has ever had.
Donovan’s been making Nike money for probably the last 10 years. He’s also got Gillette, gatorade etc lining his pockets, not to mention his salary from the Galaxy. I don’t think Donovan’s worry about his bank account when making this decision
I liked watching him in the EPL but resting makes sense, hopefully he can get a permanent loan sometime…
couldnt agree more… i love that hes commited to MLS and US Soccer…
I’ll be happy to see him as an MLS fan but, frankly, I think he’s an idiot. He’s done anything a player could do at this level. If he goes to the EPL and has another season like his last, he would likely be looking at a contract the likes of which MLS simply cannot offer. At some point, it really is about your financial future. That said, if he truly is committed to US soccer well, heck, good on him. It’s the rare man who looks down his nose at the potential of 8 to 10 mil a year. Sound conflicted? I am.
Disappointed that I won’t get a chance to see him in that atmosphere again. It was a great opportunity to see how one of our best players could handle the level of competition in the EPL, and he represented very well. But from a health standpoint and his importance to the MLS I can certainly understand his decision.
Donovan had a busy 2010, with Everton, Galaxy, USMNT and then more Galaxy. I can see him wanting to take a break for a bit. Good news for Galaxy supporters.
It would have been cool to see him do well in the EPL again, but this is the wiser move, he’s 29 now and if we want to win the Gold Cup, we want him to be fresh.
He’s got nothing left to prove anymore.
Good for him. Now Everton should find a way to buy him out if they really want him.
On another note, Inter sacked Benitez. Saw that one coming….(but I thought they would at least give him a yr)
Would have been nice to see him with Everton again, but he definitely deserves some time off. Good move, LD.
I was really looking forward to seeing Donovan back at Everton. But I can understand why he would want to rest up.
But the report says that Landon is passing on a LOAN deal. Is their still the possibility of Landon moving on a transfer deal?
I think this is very wise of him. He has done more than anyone could ever imagine. Now he needs a break.
Can’t blame him. His body was bound to break down big time if he kept going on loan to Europe in the winter.
Guys committed to the Galaxy, US Soccer, and the growth of our sport!