Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan, who was controversially left off the U.S. team for the 2014 World Cup, expressed a lack of renewed passion for the game following an extended hiatus as he announced his retirement from professional soccer effective by the end of the 2014 Major League Soccer season.
”I think for the last few years, I haven’t had the same passion that I had previously in my career,” said Donovan yesterday at the Galaxy’s home stadium, the StubHub Center. ”To some extent, I had felt obligated to keep playing. … It’s time to enjoy the rest of the season, and there would be no better way than to go out as a champion, so that’s what I want to do.” Donovan had originally gone on a months-long hiatus after the Galaxy won a second consecutive MLS Cup in December 2012, but had returned to the team in time for the 2013 MLS season. He is currently MLS’ all-time leading goal scorer with 136 career goals over a 14-year career, and is also the leading goal scorer in the history of the U.S. national team.
According to Donovan, he hopes to continue traveling and “having the freedom” to do what he wants to do once his retirement takes effect. ”It gets me excited thinking about it,” he said, talking about his retirement plans. ”For 16 years, almost every decision I’ve made, every hour of every day, has revolved around, ‘How is this going to prepare me for tomorrow’s training session or tomorrow’s game?’ Just having the freedom to do whatever you want is exciting, and I’m looking forward to that.”
Reacting to the 32-year-old Donovan’s surprise retirement announcement, MLS Commissioner thanked the Galaxy star for making MLS “the league of choice” for the best American soccer players. “Landon is to MLS what Michael Jordan was to the NBA, Wayne Gretzky was to the NHL, and Tiger Woods was to the PGA Tour,” said Garber in a statement.