Thanks Treetaliano for giving us a late breaking news.... BREAKING NEWS: DONOVAN REJOINS LEVERKUSEN Chad Winger for Yanks Abroad Thursday, November 4, 2004 Dononvan returns to Germany Landon Donovan has played his final MLS match, as the 22 year will return to Germany to rejoin Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen following a long-term loan, Yanks Abroad has learned. The now ex-San Jose Earthquake is due in Leverkusen this weekend and will attend Saturday's match against SC Freiburg at the BayArena, Leverkusen press officer Uli Dost confirmed to YA. "He will arrive in Leverkusen Friday," Dost says Thursday morning. "At that time we will present him to the players and the coaching staff." "During the following week we will meet with the player and his advisors, and an official announcement will come at that time." Donovan will not be able to play for the Bavarians until the January 1st transfer window opens, but will be available in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League if the side progresses, or the UEFA Cup if they finish in third position of their group. Yanks Abroad will be monitoring this breaking story throughout the day, please check back throughout the afternoon for more details. MOD EDIT: For those joining the discussion late, mlsnet later today released a statement that says Landon's indeed going to Germany this weekend, but that his future is still in question.
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES Not entirely unexpected if true. But is it possible to get more bad news in the span of one week if you're a Quakes fan (and a Democrat )? Well, there were some (but not all) good results in the Santa Clara city council elections.
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES Man, We take so much for granted..in my mind, I kinda' thought he'd always be with us. Ya' don't realize what ya' got till' it's gone, eh? I'm gonna' have to get me a Dish so I can start watching a certain German team this winter!!! P.S. Every time that guy got the ball, there was a sense of anticipation that something magical was about to happen! P.P.S My daughter and her friend were the last San Jose fans to get an autograph/ picture taken with Landon. She's got the pic hanging on her wall (kind of a shrine thing goin').
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES I think he actually said "Auf Weidersein" Lee
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES I went door-to-door for los tres amigos de Santa Clara last Sunday. Looks like Kevin Moore is in, Will Kennedy may be in a run-off(?) and Chuck Blaire is out. He seems like a good guy and went to S.J. Earthquake sgames in the 70's (like me!). I'm praying for a new SSS!
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES can't say it wasn't expected... from a purely selfish reason, this sucks as I will only be able to watch him on FSW or ESPN CL coverage... o/w, it is a good thing and I think we were blessed to be able to watch such a fast rate of maturity from the Golden Boy...
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES Yes, as far as I can tell... Its even on UEFA.com. Are you surprised?? Its been pretty much known for some time that he was going back after this MLS season. I didn't realize he'd start training straight away, but fully expected him to go to Germany in January. Lee
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/news/Kind=1/newsId=254686.html why stay and not know if/where you will be palying next season? he even said that the "messing" with the team was getting to him... he will excel, ze Germans will love him, and he will bring us glory in 2006 & 2010....
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES im not suprised, it just seems abrupt, I guess I figured it would be a month or two till he went but this weekend? Wow, he's not wasting any time. Best of luck to him, he'll be great.
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES I agree it does seem to be happening faster than I expected too... But now that it has happened, it makes sense from a footballing POV. He will be missed, and I certainly hope that he not only plays well for his new team, but that he ENJOYS playing well for his new team! Lee
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES Best wishes to LD in Germany! Damn, he will sure be missed. I've got my fingers crossed that he returns in May or June on a transfer or something. But I'm not terribly optimistic.
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES damn, you guys really got screwed this week. i actually feel sorry for you.
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES Hopefully, he won't report to Bavaria, because Bayer Leverkusen is in the Northwest of Germany.
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES "Hopefully, he won't report to Bavaria..." what Munich needs is a goalie. Well, this is going to be a fun conversation with my five year old. Tony
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES From the first MLS championship to the World Cup run in 2002 and from the amazing run in 2003 to captaining the national team, Donovan's left us with amazing memories during his time in the US. I saw the best young American ever play for my club and country for 4 years, and for that, I'll always be appreciative.
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES I told my five and nine year old at the playoff game that this could be it for Landon as a Quake. It will have to be repeated a few more times beofe the five year old really understands it. Sad day.
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES Holy heck! Is this true?! I'm very sad! They didn't even let him stay for the holidays. This sucks! It's just not right.
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES I know how your 5 year old feels! It just seems wrong to think of the Quakes without Landon. Landon without the Quakes. Just wrong!
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES I feel for you quake fans. Being a Fire supporter we have lost a number of players the last few years. I'll miss landon playing in the MLS but, I feel it's for the best. His play will improve playing in germany as well as the champions league. I hope you guys don't lose your team also. Good luck Landon and SJ!
Yanks-Abroad reports LD Leaving I think we've all been expecting this. But this is the first time I've seen it in print as "definite". DONOVAN TO REJOIN LEVERKUSEN Chad Winger for Yanks Abroad Thursday, November 4, 2004 Dononvan returns to Germany Landon Donovan has played his final MLS match, as the 22 year will return to Germany to rejoin Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen following a long-term loan, Yanks Abroad has learned. The now ex-San Jose Earthquake is due in Leverkusen this weekend and will attend Saturday's match against SC Freiburg at the BayArena, Leverkusen press officer Uli Dost confirmed to YA. See the full story at: http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=news&id=000313
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES what will this board be without the weekly "Donovan to Germany" thread?
Re: Landon Donovan says Adios to MLS & QUAKES No, you're thinking of the weekly "WILL Landon got to Germany" threads... THIS is the soon-to-be weekly "Landon has GONE to Germany" thread. Lee