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Meet Landon Donovan

Make a move on injury time!

Date of Birth: 4 March 1982
Height: 173 cm
Shirt number: 10
Position: Forward
Current club: Los Angeles Galaxy (USA)
International Caps: 119
International Goals: 39
First international: USA - Mexico (25-10-2000)
Club History
Everton (ENG) : From 2010 to 2010
LA Galaxy (USA) : From 2009 to 2009
Bayern München (GER) : From 2009 to 2009
LA Galaxy (USA) : From 2005 to 2008
Bayer Leverkusen (GER) : From 2005 to 2005
San Jose Earthquakes (USA) : From 2001 to 2004
Bayer Leverkusen (GER) : From 2000 to 2001

Profile

In 1999, a 17-year-old Landon Donovan picked up the Golden Ball as best player at the FIFA U-17 World Championship in New Zealand and soon afterwards he earned his first call-up to a United States national team training camp. The supremely skilled attacking midfielder has since earned over 100 caps and become the USA's top all-time scorer. Not bad for a lad still just 27.

He made his senior international debut 2001, and the precocious player, blessed with an ability to press forward and get goals by the bag-load, soon established himself as the most talented and technically gifted American player of his generation. With close control, explosive pace and superior vision, he earned himself a place in then coach Bruce Arena's squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan™ where, at barely 20 years of age, he played a significant role in the USA's run to the quarter-finals. Roaming between the midfield and frontrunners, he scored twice in a successful campaign, against Poland in the first round and Mexico in their memorable round of 16 triumph.

While Donovan enjoyed a meteoric rise with the national team, he has experienced mixed fortunes in his club career. He became one of the youngest American players in history to sign a professional contract with an overseas club when agreeing to join with German club Bayer Leverkusen in 1999. However, it proved too much pressure too soon for the youngster. After a season with Leverkusen's second team, Donovan was sent back across the Atlantic to MLS outfit San Jose Earthquakes in a loan deal to allow him to gain more experience in the familiar surroundings of his home state of California.

In his first season back he led the previously flagging Earthquakes to their first MLS championship in 2001. He then inspired San Jose to a second MLS title in 2003, when he was voted the league's best player, and his success prompted Leverkusen to call him back in 2004 for one more try at the European big time. But vocal about his desire to play in the States and his unhappiness in Germany, his stay lasted only three months before he returned home to sign for Los Angeles Galaxy on a new contract that made him the highest-paid player in the American league. The five-time American Footballer of the Year did not disappoint the fans in the City of Angels as he led the side to an MLS crown in 2005. Since then, though, the Galaxy has suffered, missing the play-offs in three straight years.

Donovan was criticized for his play at the 2006 finals in Germany, where the United States went out after the group stages without winning a single game. Since then, though, Donovan has re-found his form and confidence, becoming the USA all-time top scorer, occasional captain, reaching his century of caps and having a successful loan spell with Bayern Munich in 2009. Although criticised for going missing in the big games, Donovan is widely considered to be one of the best American players of all time.

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