Landon Donovan’s Future in MLS
Now that the World Cup is over, the top leagues in the world are getting ready to get play back underway, while some like the MLS resume suspended play. Players are also returning to their club sides after participating in South Africa, which of course includes American star Landon Donovan who has returned to the LA Galaxy. There has been talk recently that the MLS wouldn’t be accepting any offers for Donovan to return to Europe, where he played for Everton of the EPL on a 10 week loan prior to the World Cup. This is a big mistake by the MLS and for the future of US soccer. While Donovan may improve short term ratings for the MLS, this would not be nearly as effective as a potential successful stint for Donovan in the elite leagues of the world.
MLS commissioner Don Garber recently stated that the league had no interest in accepting transfer offers for Donovan. He feels that the midfielder is too much of a star for the league to give him up. While ratings may take a slight hit if Donovan is gone, and I suspect their wouldn’t be too much of a drop off, the value of him returning overseas, where it is rumored that Everton and Manchester City of the Premier League are interested in him, would be great for American soccer. It will gain credibility for US soccer abroad and will inspire young players in America and prove that they can make it in the elite leagues of the world. Even players in the most elite national teams such as Argentina and Brazil play their club football in Europe, in what are considered to be the top four leagues in the world, the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, and the German Bundesliga. For example, Kaka, Luis Fabiano, and Maicon are just a few of the Brazilians that play in Europe as opposed to staying in the Brazilian League.
Donovan also let it be known that his experience at Everton gave him the confidence to have a successful performance in South Africa. When you are regularly playing games against clubs with the quality of Chelsea and Manchester United you are bound to become more accustomed to playing at the highest level. While the MLS is moving in the right direction, you cannot argue that it is even close to the level of many European leagues not to mention the top 4. Other Americans such as Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, and Jozy Altidore are already playing in the top leagues of the world. In fact, the US only had 4 players on its World Cup roster from MLS, including Donovan. In his time at Everton, he proved that he belonged among the world’s elite and can become even better if he spends a significant amount of time in Europe. His games for Everton, assuming he returns to the club if he goes back to Europe, can be shown weekly here in the states where he will be a teammate of American goalkeeper Tim Howard. This will help gain more fans of the game who in turn may start watching more MLS games. Nothing in the MLS can replicate the experience and knowledge he can gain in Europe and bring back to the national team.
While Garber hasn’t ruled out more potential loans in the future, Donovan is signed under contract with the Galaxy, as of December, for the next 4 years and expects to make more than $2 million this year. Obviously not only can he make much more money in Europe, but the MLS can also make more money by accepting his transfer fees. If fans in America see their favorite domestic players competing at the highest level of the sport, they will become much more devoted to the sport and it will have a greater impact than seeing a player have success in a league such as the MLS. Think of it this way, it’s like the best basketball players in Europe coming to the United States to play in the NBA. If you want to compete at the highest level and become one of the world’s elite countries in the sport, you have to play with the top players in the world for a prolonged period of time.
As for the future of the MLS, we are now starting to see players come up through each team’s youth system, which is a great sign. This is how the top clubs in the world bring up young players year after year that have all been playing the same style and in the same system all their lives. For example, we saw Spain win the World Cup recently and they were made up mostly of players from only two teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid. The system payed at Barcelona was virtually the same that the Spanish national team displayed in South Africa. Their teamwork and possession is really what gave them an edge over the other nations this summer. The more and more developed each club’s youth system becomes, the greater the play will become and the more formidable of a league the MLS will be.
The intentions of the commissioner regarding Donovan also come at the same time as French superstar Thierry Henry is set to begin his MLS career with the New York Red Bulls. With players like Henry, Beckham, and perhaps even Ronaldinho, who has been rumored to be potentially going to the Galaxy, in the league the MLS is gaining more credibility as a league around the world. Once Donovan plays in Europe, he can potentially come back as an even bigger star with experience at the highest levels and return to the MLS to play his final years. It seems clear to me that Donovan wants to be in Europe at the moment and wants to prove to himself and his doubters that he can succeed there. When he was younger, Donovan spent time in Germany where he had little success which resulted in him coming to MLS. His stint at Everton was a real breakthrough for him as he finally succeeded in the top leagues of the world. His time in the EPL made him a better player and helped the US perform admirably in the World Cup this summer, and that was only in 10 weeks, imagine what a few years could do for his game, and perhaps more importantly his confidence. The more big game experience American players gain in Europe, the more poised and ready they’ll be when it comes time to get ready for Brazil in 2014.
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