Landon Donovan goes out on his unique terms, with one final title

CARSON, Calif. — When some superstars—like, say, Michael Jordan—win a title, they appear at the postgame press conference wearing a $5,000 custom suit. Landon

Grant Wahl | Dec 7, 2014

Landon Donovan goes out on his unique terms, with one final title /

CARSON, Calif. — When some superstars—like, say, Michael Jordan—win a title, they appear at the postgame press conference wearing a $5,000 custom suit. Landon Donovan didn’t do that here on Sunday after his final game, the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 victory over the New England, which gave him a record sixth MLS Cup title to go with his MLS all-time records in goals and assists.

No, the greatest player in MLS and U.S. men’s history sat up there on the podium shirtless, with a white towel draped over his shoulders, looking more like a proud but spent middleweight boxer who’d just won a title belt after a brutal nine-month training period. He looked like someone who had given everything he had.

There’s a common criticism leveled at Donovan that he could have done more with his remarkable talent, that he could have broken new ground for U.S. players in European club soccer by becoming the first true American superstar in the world’s most popular sport. Donovan didn’t end up doing that: He did it his way, choosing to play the majority of his career in MLS, his own country’s developing domestic league, where he showed his quality time and again, albeit on a stage that wasn’t the UEFA Champions League.

Landon Donovan retires a champion; Galaxy top Revs to win MLS Cup

But Bruce Arena, Donovan’s coach with the Galaxy and for the U.S. at two World Cups, had a different spin on that old Donovan cliché on Sunday.

Acknowledging that Donovan’s drive to play had declined in recent years, Arena argued that Donovan got nearly everything out of what his body—and, most importantly, his mind—would allow.

“Landon has done the real shift in the game,” Arena said. “He’s done it all. He’s got very little left to give. So I’m so happy that he’s made this decision [to retire at 32]. He’s able to go out as a winner. And don’t we all wish to be able to leave what we do like the way Landon left today as a winner? He ends his career … as arguably the greatest player in the history of the U.S. Soccer national team program, and in the league the all-time leading goal-scorer, assists, championships. What more can you say? Can you write that any better, that script?”

“So I’m happy for him. He’s spent. He’s done. And my hat is off to him.”

The Donovan tributes came from all sides after the final whistle, after he’d leaned back and closed his eyes and thanked the heavens above, after the long embraces with dozens of teammates, family and well-wishers, after he’d followed John Elway and Joe DiMaggio and Bill Russell as era-defining superstars who won a championship in their final game.

From New England coach Jay Heaps: “He’s done it the right way, all the way.”

WATCH: Keane nets MLS Cup-winning goal for Galaxy

From Galaxy teammate Robbie Keane: “It was just a great honor to play these four years with him. I’m delighted for him more than anybody to go out on a high because he deserves it.”

It’s time for Donovan to go now, not far from the height of his powers, still winning championships, still making a difference, and not tracing a sad decline until we read one year that he’d been cut, and we shook our heads and said, “Remember when…?”

When asked whether his decision felt right at this time, Donovan cracked a deadpan joke: “Well, I was going to wait until the end, but I’ve decided to come back…”

Everyone laughed.

And then he got more serious. “It does,” he said. “It feels great. As much excitement as there is about the game, there’s excitement that tomorrow I don’t have to train anymore. Tomorrow I don’t have to do a lot of the things that were the not-fun parts of the job. Now along with that I don’t get experiences like today anymore, either. There’s a lot of good, there’s going to be some bad. But it feels good to go out this way.”

Donovan didn’t produce a signature moment in the final that will live long in the memory bank. But there was a perfect symbolism in the versatility he showed during the game. Back when he was the U.S. coach, Arena once said that Donovan would be his best player at whatever position he played. And on Sunday he moved Donovan to three different spots, from left midfield to center forward to right midfield.

Zardes becomes first Homegrown Player to score in MLS Cup

The changes made a difference. After the second-half switch, the Galaxy went ahead, 1-0, on a goal scored by GyasiZardes, who was more effective after trading places with Donovan.

Donovan moved back into midfield in extra-time, allowing Alan Gordon to come in up top, giving the Galaxy another new look. Soon came Keane’s title-winning goal.

“I’ve always tried to be a winner,” said Donovan, “and I think that’s one thing that people don’t maybe appreciate enough, the guys who are real winners. To me that’s just as important as all the individual stuff. Don’t get me wrong, goals are great, assists are great, awards are great. But soccer is a unique game where you can’t as easily influence a game.”

“In basketball, there are five guys on the court,” he went on. “In football, there’s a quarterback who can always influence a game. In soccer, to be able to influence a game and consistently be a winner is very difficult … Today I didn’t have a great game, as far as technically and that stuff. But I felt like I was doing things to help. Other guys didn’t have great games, but they did things to help win.”

WATCH: Galaxy celebrate with locker room slip-n-slide

Donovan, thank god, never was a merciless machine of a player. He’s a human being, one who took time off from the game at one point to rediscover himself, one who found that while winning matters, winning while being a real person mattered more. When asked about the emotions he felt after the game, Donovan talked at length about what his teammates had endured this season, guys who’ve lost parents and, in AJ DeLaGarza’s case, a recently-born child.

“When you finish a year like this, all of that sort of comes out,” Donovan said. “And when you couple that with having been a part of these guys’ lives for so many years, a lot of them have been here five, six, seven, eight years. It’s family. So when you can celebrate it that way, it’s so pure. That’s the absolute beauty of sports.”

The absolute beauty of sports. How many athletes would deliver a line so thoughtful in that situation?

By the time he was finished talking, the white towel had fallen off Donovan’s shoulders. He looked naked up there, a fitting scene for a player—for a person—who revealed so much of his inner thoughts over the years. There was no artifice here. Next to Donovan on the podium table was Arena’s bottle of Champagne. Like Donovan the athlete, it was empty. Spent.

And yet the shirtless man next to it—Donovan the person—suddenly appeared reborn.

GALLERY: Classic Landon Donovan Photos

Landon Donovan Classic Photos

Landon Donovan

A former dare-to-dream-big kid who matured into the most decorated male player to ever don the United States uniform, Landon Donovan will retire at the end of the 2014 MLS season. On the heels of that news, here are some classic photos of Landon Donovan.

Landon Donovan

Donovan and Julio Bracamontes of Mexico battle during the quarterfinals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. The U.S. defeated Mexico 3-2.

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Donovan standing in front of the Bayer pharmaceutical plant in Cologne, Germany. He had a brief stint with German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Landon Donovan

Donovan, right, runs through an agility drill at a practice session in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.

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Donovan during a quiet moment with Bayer Leverkusen.

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Donovan hits out of a bunker while playing a round of golf in Adelaide, Australia, on an off-day before playing Japan in one of the quarterfinal matches of the Olympics.

Landon Donovan

To honor U.S. Women's National Team member Brandi Chastain -- who famously took off her shirt after winning the 1999 World Cup on a penalty kick -- Donovan pulled off his jersey to reveal a sports bra after he scored during the MLS All-Star Game in San Jose.

Landon Donovan

Donovan gets off a shot as James Lawrence arrives too late to stop it during a 2002 World Cup qualifier against Jamaica.

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Donovan, then with the San Jose Earthquakes, hoists the MLS Cup trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Donovan scored the Earthquakes' first goal in the 43rd minute.

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Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley pass the ball in a stretching drill at the Misari Football Center in Seoul, Korea.

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Donovan autographs a USA team jersey for U.S. Army SPC 4 Jesus Medina of Houston during the team's visit to the demilitarized zone in Panmunjom, South Korea. The U.S. soccer squad faced Portugal, South Korea and Poland in the first round of the 2002 FIFA Korea-Japan World Cup.

Landon Donovan

Donovan records teammate DaMarcus Beasley during the national team's visit to the demilitarized zone.

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Petit of Portugal holds back Donovan during the second half of the their Group D match played in South Korea. The U.S. won 3-2.

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Donovan celebrates following his 65th-minute goal during second-round playoff action against Mexico in the 2002 World Cup. The U.S. won 2-0.

Landon Donovan

A disgusted Donovan reacts after barely missing out on a goal against Germany in a quarterfinal of the 2002 World Cup. The Germans defeated the U.S. 1-0.

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Donovan on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the national team began play in the 2002 World Cup.

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Donovan during the 2002 ESPY Awards with Bianca Kajlich at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. The two were married from 2006-2010.

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Turkish defender Fatih Sonkaya and Donovan vie for the ball during their Confederations Cup match in Saint-Etienne, France.

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Donovan played his fourth and last season with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2004. He made 87 appearances for them and scored 32 goals.

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Donovan poses in Manhattan Beach, Calif., during a photo shoot with SI.

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Donovan in action vs. Mexico during a 2006 World Cup qualifier.

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Donovan runs off the field holding an American flag after the U.S. defeated Mexico to advance to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

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Donovan with teammates Oguchi Onyewu (top, left), Bobby Convey (top, right), and DaMarcus Beasley.

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Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Oguchi Onyewu and Bobby Convey on the cover of Sports Illustrated prior to the 2006 World Cup.

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Ghana's Liliasu Shilla battles with Donovan during a Group E game. The U.S. lost 2-1 to Ghana, lost 3-0 to the Czech Republic and finished in a 1-1 draw with eventual champion Italy.

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A disappointed Donovan after the U.S. was eliminated from the 2006 World Cup after its third game.

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Frankie Hejduk and Donovan parade around the field with the Gold Cup after the U.S. defeated Mexico in the final of the 2007 CONCACAF at sold out Soldier Field in Chicago.

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Donovan receives a kiss from his mother, Donna Kenney-Cash, after winning the Honda Player of the Year Award.

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Donovan clashes with the goalkeeper during a U.S. match with Cuba.

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Donovan heads the ball against Mexico during a 2010 World Cup qualifying match at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The U.S. won, 2-0.

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A Donovan assist on a goal by teammate Jozy Altidore led to this reaction during a 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Trinidad and Tobago at LP Field in Nashville.

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David Beckham and Donovan celebrate the latter's goal against the Houston Dynamo during the 2009 MLS Western Conference Championship game at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 2-0.

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English Premier League side Everton acquired Donovan on a two-and-a-half-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2010.

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Donovan made an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, where the host had fun with a magazine spread in which Donovan was wearing patriotic underwear.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (far left), New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and Donovan helped launch a new razor with a ceremonial first shave in New York.

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Donovan during an SI For Kids photo shoot.

Landon Donovan

Donovan poses during an SI photo shoot.

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Donovan poses with Clint Dempsey (left) and Tim Howard on the cover of Sports Illustrated prior to the start of the 2010 World Cup.

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Donovan shoots and scores past Slovenia's goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and defender Marko Suler during their Group C first-round match at the 2010 World Cup.

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Donovan celebrates with U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey after scoring during their 2010 FIFA World Cup group stage match vs. Slovenia at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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Donovan jumps over the goalkeeper in the U.S. final group stage game against Algeria at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

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Donovan scores the winning goal in the 91st minute as the U.S. defeats Algeria, 1-0. Needing a win to advance, the goal secured the U.S. as winners of Group C and advanced it to the Round of 16.

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Donovan dives toward the corner flag, where teammates Stuart Holden (left) and Clarence Goodson celebrate after Donovan's stoppage-time goal propelled the United States to the knockout stage of the 2010 World Cup.

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Donovan arrives for the Round of 16 World Cup match against Ghana at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa. The U.S. would go on to lose 2-1 in overtime.

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Donovan and David Letterman take turns trying to kick a ball into the open window of a taxi outside the Ed Sullivan Theater for "The Late Show With David Letterman".

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Donovan throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles.

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Actor Mark Wahlberg shakes hands with Donovan at the 2010 ESPY Awards.

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Danica Patrick and Donovan at the 2010 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.

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Donovan and Serena Williams attend a Super Bowl Weekend kickoff party in Dallas.

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Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant (far left), Donovan, actor David Henrie, and former NBA player Chris Webber attend the Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards held at The Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, Calif.

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Lionel Messi of Argentina dribbles between Donovan and Michael Bradley during the first half of a friendly at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

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Donovan greets a line of kids as he leads the L.A. Galaxy onto the field for ceremonies before their game with Chivas USA.

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Donovan jumps into the arms of a teammate after scoring against Mexico in the first half of the CONCACAF Gold Cup final in Pasadena, Calif.

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Donovan loosens up during a training session ahead of the MLS Cup.

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Indonesian students listen to Donovan during a soccer clinic in Jakarta. The L.A. Galaxy visited Indonesia as part of their Asia tour.

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Everton Manager David Moyes gives instructions to Donovan during a FA Cup fourth-round match between Everton and Fulham at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England.

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Donovan watches the Los Angeles Kings and the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

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Donovan and James Riley of Chivas USA vie for the ball in the Chivas 18-yard box during an MLS match won by Chivas, 1-0.

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Scottish midfielder Scott Brown steals the ball away from Donovan during the U.S.' 5-1 victory over Scotland in a friendly at Everbank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.

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Referee Silvia Reyes gets between Donovan and Toronto FC's Darren O'Dea after O'Dea tripped Donovan during an MLS match. The LA Galaxy defeated Toronto 4-2.

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Donovan reacts after scoring on a penalty kick in the second half against the Houston Dynamo in the 2012 MLS Cup. The Los Angeles Galaxy won 3-1.

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Donovan kisses the MLS Cup after winning the 2012 title against the Houston Dynamo at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

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Donovan poses for a photo during "Soccer Night In Newtown" at the Newtown Youth Academy Sports & Fitness Center in Connecticut.

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President Barack Obama holds a soccer ball as he poses with Donovan during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. The ceremony was held to honor Los Angeles' 2012 MLS Cup victory.

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Donovan attempts a back-heeled shot against Woodrow West of Belize during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup in Portland, Ore. Donovan finished with a goal and two assists -- becoming the first U.S. player to record both 50 goals and 50 assists for his career -- as the U.S. won easily, 6-1.

Landon Donovan

Donovan celebrates after scoring a goal against El Salvador during 5-1 victory over El Salvador in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal in Baltimore.

Published Dec 7, 2014

GRANT WAHL

A leading soccer journalist and best-selling author, Grant Wahl has been with SI since 1996 and has penned more than three dozen cover stories.