Rumors this is what the 2pm news conference is about... Big announcement doesn't mean new player for @LAGalaxy. Looks like @landondonovan retiring at end of 2014 @MLS season. #BreakingNews— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) August 7, 2014
If this is true, I am not surprised. He was playing to make Brazil, and I always thought he'd retire after that. Didn't turn out like he hoped, and he's not making the 2016 Copa America squad, so he's going to try to go out with a bang and go do something else with his life.
im shocked... and also pissed this has nothing to do with a shiny new toy to win star #5. but maybe LD gets the love and we just go ahead and win the whole F'n thing anyways... can't spell legend without LD...
What a wimp. He is not that old and has so much left to offer the game and he's quitting? Frankly, I think it is a pathetic decision and the timing after missing out on Brazil makes it look like he is taking his ball and going home. I know you will all disagree with me but that is my immediate reaction. Of course it is his choice when to stop playing.
I have to agree with this as well. We could use his services beyond this season. If he wants to quit, then all the best for him in the future, but for me this reeks of him making noise because he was left off the squad for Brazil.
I predicted this way back after he came back from his break. Said he'd go until the WC, and then retire. His heart is not in the grind anymore, hasn't been for a while. He does his own thing, marches to his own drum, and he doesn't care enough what people think to let it stop him. He's going to go do something different with his life and he's been thinking about it and wanting to do it for years. He's just not a "play until my legs fall off" guy like Keane. Personally, I would have liked to see his career, overall, take a different trajectory. But as a personal choice, I have nothing to say. He owes no one anything.
It's official now. http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2014/08/la-galaxy-forward-landon-donovan-retire-following-2014-season
This breaks my heart, but Donovan has earn the right to retire if he likes, the greatest American ever, he has nothing to prove now. We will never witness a player like him again in decades.......
I wouldn't say he is a wimp, he's lost passion for the game he used to love and it seems like he has decided to look for another passion while he still can. I can't fault him for that he is human and all of us have lost passion for what we have loved at one time or another. as a Galaxy fan I'm sad that he is hanging it up but he did give us a lot of joyous moments and as a person I want the very best for Landon.
Then why the press conference? Did Twellman just get his wires crossed? Or did the fact that it has got out prompt them to release the news earlier than intended?
I hope he will be happy with whatever he is doing after he retires. To me, he will still be the best USMNT and MLS player of all time.
I'm pretty sure the plan was the Klesjtan loan for this season, then he takes the DP slot next year. Then Klestjan fell through and we're just here with the retirement.
This is just how you manage a big news story. Leak it to a favored reporter/outlet/business partner (ESPN), release a statement, have a press conference a couple hours later to go in depth. Sasha would have been the next day or 2 later, after he was able to get over here.