MLS all-time leading scorer Landon Donovan has come out of retirement to rejoin his former team, the LA Galaxy, for the remainder of the 2016 season.
By Ivan Yeo
He’s back.
The Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday announced that longtime great Landon Donovan will rejoin the team for the remainder of the season. Donovan is expected to immediately be available for Sunday’s match against Orlando City.
Donovan retired after leading the Galaxy to its fifth MLS Cup title in 2014. Since then, Donovan has done numerous public and media appearances and mostly done analyst work for Galaxy games for Tine Warner Cable Sportsnet.
The Galaxy apparently saw a need for a player of Donovan’s caliber, as they have been hit with a rash of injuries, particularly its forwards. Gyasi Zardes is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a foot injury on LA’s August 27 match against Vancouver and Robbie Keane has missed the Galaxy’s last four matches due to undisclosed injuries. The Galaxy are currently tied with Real Salt Lake for second place in the Western Conference and both teams are seven points back of FC Dallas for the top spot in the conference and also the Supporters Shield race with six matches to go in the season.
Not much needs to be said about Landon Donovan’s impact on soccer in America. Donovan has won five MLS Cups, two with the San Jose Earthquakes and three with the Galaxy his last in 2014. Donovan is also the league all-time leader in goals (144) and assists (136). He was also MVP in 2009, the Golder Boot winner in 2008, MLS Cup MVP in 2003 and 2011 and made the MLS Best XI seven times in his career. Donovan’s the USMNT is also unmatched, as he is US Soccer’s all-time leader in caps (157) and goals (57).
There will be one significant change for Donovan, as he will wear jersey number 26, as his old number 10 is currently occupied by Giovani Dos Santos.
