Player Focus: Landon's LA Loyalty a Timely Boost for Galaxy
Major League Soccer is looking after its own right now. Having tempted Clint Dempsey back to home shores with a record contract at the Seattle Sounders the North American top flight has now persuaded Landon Donovan to remain in Southern California.
With speculation swirling that Donovan could be set for a move to the Premier League, or even Mexico, the 31 year old has committed to at least two more seasons with the Los Angeles Galaxy, signing a new contract this week.
While Donovan’s new $4.5 million per annum deal with the Galaxy lags some way behind Dempsey’s reported $6.9 million a season contract with the Sounders, his decision to stay in MLS could be just as symbolic of the league’s continued growth.
Donovan has embodied American soccer, and MLS, for the best part of a decade. Since signing for the Galaxy in 2005, following a career that took him to the Bundesliga, the Premier League and an initial MLS spell with the San Jose Earthquakes, Donovan has developed into a genuine American legend.
Having been stung by stars of a bygone era, like Rafael Marquez and Carlo Cudicini, the league’s 19 clubs appear to have adopted a different strategy.
The number of MLS-based players in Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA national team illustrates this new approach (at the last competitive count nine such players made the roster).
Even at the Galaxy, the league’s most glamorous and flamboyant franchise, there has been a shift in dynamic, with US international Omar Gonzalez handed the club’s third designated player spot. Rather than approaching an ageing, yet high profile, European star the Galaxy have instead retained their homegrown talent.
“I think we’re seeing a little bit of a tipping point right now,” Donovan explained upon his decision to extend his stay on the West coast. “When you have a guy like Clint Dempsey wanting to be in our league, it makes a big statement.”
But despite his iconic status and success in the US Donovan still has plenty to prove in MLS. His desire for the game has often been questioned, especially after his three month sabbatical from the sport at the start of this season, but with Dempsey’s arrival Donovan is no longer the biggest draw for native fans.
His new contract in LA won’t necessarily quell doubts over his competitive mindset (there have been reports Donovan turned down an approach from Manchester United).
As double-defending champions the Galaxy are MLS heavyweights, with Donovan now their biggest asset alongside Robbie Keane in attack in the post-David Beckham era. So what does his decision to stay in the US mean for the Galaxy?
Indeed Donovan is integral to the Galaxy’s game, with coach Bruce Arena giving him a fluid role within the team. In fact he has been used in four different positions so far this season. Arena can ask Donovan to play as an inverted forward, a deeper midfield playmaker or even as a central attacker. His versatility underlines the longstanding debate over what constitutes his best position.
In just 15 league appearances Donovan has found the net 7 times, making him the Galaxy’s second top scorer (behind Keane) with the play-off season coming into focus.
Donovan’s influence on the Galaxy is obvious, leading his team’s key passes per game column, with an average of 2.7, ranking him among the league’s top ten key passers.
His accomplished all-round game gives LA both an attacking threat and a passing platform in an advances position. Donovan makes more passes per game – 39.5 – than any other Galaxy forward.
Arena has experimented with different formulas up front, alternating between Donovan, Keane and rookie Gyasi Zardes as the top two, yet it is the former two who have developed the most astute understanding.
Both Donovan and Keane base their games on the premise of percentage play, taking chances where perhaps other wouldn’t. This sees the duo lead the Galaxy for successful dribbles per game (joint on 1.5), while Keane is the team’s most dispossessed player (with Donovan ranked fifth).
Donovan’s pass success rate (74.5%) is rather weak but his key passes per game average suggests his passing style is focused on unlocking opposition backlines with high-risk, high-reward moves. He may lose the ball more often than many MLS forwards but the champions benefit for their creativity and willingness to try something different.
As a stalwart of the league Donovan is within sight of becoming MLS’ most prolific attacker ever, lurking just 3 goals shy of Jeff Cunningham as the all-time leading goalscorer.
In the assist column Donovan is just 21 assists short of surpassing Steve Ralston’s all-time league record (135 assists over 14 seasons). Should he achieve those two milestones his statistical legacy in MLS will be assured.
Donovan’s ambition (or lack of) makes easy fodder for critics but another MLS Cup would see the former US captain become the league’s most successful player in history, with Donovan, Jeff Agoos and Brian Mullan all tied on five championships each. He is widely considered to be the best player ever produced by the States. Not bad for a player with no ambition.
