LA Galaxy MLS Cup 2014: Where are they now?
By Matt Coles
LM – Landon Donovan – Retired
One of MLS’ biggest ever stars, Landon Donovan helped the LA Galaxy to their fifth MLS Cup title in 2014, and what would be a record sixth league crown for himself. The attacking midfielder played 36 times for the Galaxy in their 2014 MLS Cup run, including starting all five of their postseason matches.
Donovan’s career started in Germany, with Bayer Leverkusen. Whilst he was there, he received his first international cap. That came in 2000, at the age of just 18, and the American went on to play over 150 times for his country, scoring 57 goals, helping the side to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup on four occasions.
In 2001, Leverkusen sent the midfielder on loan to San Jose Earthquakes, where he got his first taste of MLS action. In his four years with the ‘Quakes, Donovan helped the club to two MLS Cup triumphs, in 2001 and 2003, and was awarded the MLS Cup MVP award in the latter.
The American made the permanent move to MLS in 2005, signing for the Galaxy, where he would spend the next ten years of his career. His first season in LA saw the side win the U.S. Open Cup, before winning four MLS Cups over the decade he was there, taking his individual tally to a record six league triumphs. He was named MLS MVP in 2009, having won the Golden Boot for the league a year earlier as well, with the award for MVP being named after him in 2015.
Donovan had loan spells at Bayern Munich and Everton during MLS offseasons between 2009 and 2011, and during the 2014 campaign, the American scored 13 goals, and assisted 21 more as the Galaxy took the title. He retired after the 2014 triumph, but returned to the Galaxy in the latter part of 2016 on a short-term loan deal. Donovan then spent time with Club Leon in Liga MX before announcing his retirement once more.