August 07, 2014

Donovan to Retire at the end of this MLS season: An outstanding player and professional.

posted by johndurkin8 to soccer at 02:22 PM - 4 comments

To bad the players on the MNT couldn't have agreed to leave the #10 shirt unassigned for the WC, but FIFA regs required that the number be assigned.

posted by beaverboard at 12:21 PM on August 08, 2014

Just to stir the pot, do Bayer Leverkusen fans consider him "professional" - where he was too lazy to work for a place in a Bundesliga side? And as far as the USMNT goes, is going AWOL during the WC qualifiers a sign of team commitment?

Just asking.

posted by owlhouse at 01:07 AM on August 09, 2014

I think a player who gave as much to USMNT for a decade had a right to take a break between two World Cups without his professionalism being questioned. Even after his sabbatical, Donovan was recalled by Jurgen Klinsmann to start qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico and had an assist and goal in the latter game to clinch the U.S. place in the Cup.

posted by rcade at 10:38 AM on August 09, 2014

TL;DR: Respect his contribution for USMNT over the last dozen+ years, but as a person I'm not a huge fan.

If Donovan hadn't taken his sabbatical due to thinking like Owlies' would his play been good enough? Either his head is in the right place to play or he doesn't play.

I think his second short German stint was a complete sham though, just a way to get out of his Earthquakes contract and down to LA without costing the Galaxy any compensation.

posted by billsaysthis at 01:55 PM on August 09, 2014

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