Landon Donovan justifies his career path before final USA appearance
In the hours before his final international appearance, Landon Donovan justified his career path in the wake of comments made by U.S. coach Jürgen Klinsmann yesterday.
Klinsmann praised Donovan on the eve of his last game with the national team, but he also noted that he wondered whether Donovan extracted the most out of a career that will see him leave the game as the leading scorer for the U.S. national team and in MLS.
Donovan sidestepped about a question about the current state of his relationship with Klinsmann in the wake of his World Cup omission earlier this year, but he underscored his belief in pursuing his chosen journey despite repeated criticism from elsewhere.
“I’ve always made the decisions that are the best for me,” Donovan said during a press conference on Friday afternoon. “I know that is not always wildly popular, but I think that’s an important thing. If I lived my life based on what others wanted, then I’d have a pretty miserable life.”
Donovan also admitted he hesitated about the spectacle poised to unfold against Ecuador at Rentschler Field tonight when U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati initially broached the idea in August.
The pain of missing out on a fourth World Cup appearance prompted him to recoil from the opportunity at first. He eventually reassessed his position with some distance and ultimately opted to accept Gulati’s offer to make one last national team appearance.
U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati on his decision to invite Landon Donovan back into the team for one final appearance: “This was important to the sport, as far as I’m concerned.”
“I’ve been the beneficiary of mostly great moments in my soccer career, being treated very well, being selected when I perhaps shouldn’t have been for games, tournaments or teams,” Donovan said. “I had the benefit of the doubt for most of my career. This time, it went against me. It was difficult for me. But, at the end of the day, I looked at the big picture and realized what a special day this could be. In many ways, it’s meant to be. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it’s 10/10 today. The way it came together was beautiful. I’m glad that I get to be a part of it.”
Donovan and Klinsmann spent this week discussing the fallout and the particulars from his omission in May, but Gulati said the importance of the moment -- and the prospect of heralding a player who contributed substantially to the growth of the game in this country -- made the decision to include Donovan worthwhile.
“This was important to the sport, as far as I’m concerned,” Gulati said. “The federation is obviously a big part of that. There are few times when you get to say goodbye the right way. This isn’t the perfect way, given the last four months, I get that. But it’s a pretty good way.”
As Gulati noted, the scene on tap will provide a more fitting conclusion to Donovan’s international career than the drama from earlier this year. Donovan will have approximately 20 family members in attendance as he dons the armband one last time and takes the field for his expected 30-minute cameo.
Donovan paid tribute to his family, his teammates and the other people who made this day and his career possible. He also said he wanted to relish this last bow before he returns to LA Galaxy in time for the match against FC Dallas on Sunday.
“I want to enjoy the experience tonight,” Donovan said. “I hope it’s wonderful for everyone. It will be very special for me. I hope I’m able to thank everyone as well.”
