In an introspective mood, Landon Donovan will talk about his maturation, how failure and divorce have humbled him, how egotism has given way to perspective, how a naive prodigy has become a laser-focused veteran.
Donovan, the 28-year-old midfielder who has been the U.S. team’s most recognizable presence for a decade, is candid about his personal improvement to the point that the story of his athletic improvement may be overlooked.
But make no mistake, Donovan is playing the best soccer of his life.
Donovan finally is realizing the promise that was envisioned when he became the youngest American to sign a contract to play in Europe ‹ with Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen in 1999 ‹ at age 16. He won last season’s MLS MVP award after syncing up successfully with Galaxy teammate David Beckham. He spearheaded the United States’ breakthrough run at last summer’s Confederations Cup, including the highlight-reel goal that put the Americans up 2-0 in their eventual 3-2 loss to Brazil in the final.
And he found his first sustained success in the proving ground of European soccer after three dud stints in Germany. During a 13-game winter loan to English club Everton, Donovan scored two goals, earned team player of the month honors for January and captured the approval of the home crowd.
“I am who I am as a player now,” Donovan said. “I’m not going to learn how to shoot the ball better the next few years. The biggest improvement I made has been mental. My time in Everton was a really big test of that, to see how far I have come.
Donovan is embarking on his third World Cup tour ‹ along with midfielder DaMarcus Beasley and defender Steve Cherundolo ‹ and to chart his history in the tournament is to see just how far he has come. As an unpolished 20-year-old in 2002, he scored two goals in a breakthrough run to the quarterfinals. Then, when he was counted on to anchor the 2006 squad, he failed to make even a minimal impact and the U.S. was ushered out after group play.
Donovan looks back and sees a talented player who was not ready to carry the burden of leadership. With age and an emotional separation from wife Bianca Kajlich have come awareness and poise.
“I’m more real than I was. I’m more centered,” Donovan said. “Those things give you confidence, whatever comes you are going to be OK with. In the past I thought I had it figured out ‹ and I’m sure I will look back at this time and realize I didn’t quite have it figured out ‹ but I’m in a much better position than I was it the past.
Whether that position is an attacking role on the left or the right wing is in flux. Donovan was at his dynamic best in the friendly versus Turkey on May 29. After switching from the left to the right at halftime, he set up a pair of second-half goals to catalyze a 2-1 win.
“As long as I am on the field, I can make an impact and it doesn’t matter to me too much where I am at,” he said.
He already knows he’s in a better place.