Landon Donovan is a legend in US ‘soccer’. He is the country’s all-time leading goal-scorer having found the net 42 times in more than 120 appearances and has spent the vast majority of his playing career in the USA.

 

Donovan’s first professional club was actually in Europe. Bayer Leverkusen signed the teenage Donovan in 1999 but he failed to settle in Germany and returned to America, on loan to San Jose Earthquakes. Donovan was an immediate success leading San Jose to two MLS Cup wins. He returned to Germany but, after only seven matches, eventually came home to sign for Los Angeles Galaxy. He helped Galaxy to the MLS Cup in his first season and has since enhanced his reputation further by loan spells with Bayern Munich and most recently and successfully with Everton of the English Premier League.

Donovan made his senior USA debut in 2000, scoring the first of his international goals that day. Since then, he has experienced two World Cup tournaments and three CONCACAF Gold Cup wins. His attacking midfield play has won him admirers far beyond the US borders and he is very capable of adding to his two World Cup goals.