Landon Donovan went from being a boy with an interest in soccer to one of the most successful American born soccer players in the world. By age 16, he was a paid professional. By age 18, he was making more than $4 million a year. He has played soccer around the globe for several teams, include the U.S. Olympic squad and has set many records along the way. However, the road to success for Donovan was not an easy one.
Growing Up
Landon Dononvan was born March 4, 1982, in Ontario, Calif. He grew up in Redlands, about 75 miles outside of Los Angeles. His parents, Tim and Donna, divorced when Landon was 2. He was raised by his mother, along with his twin sister Tristan and older brother Josh. Most of the other families in the area were wealthy, but Landon's mother worked as a special education teacher.
School Years
Donovan was a natural athlete and was playing soccer competitively at age 5. He was also an accomplished gymnast in high school, although soccer was his first love. As a sophomore at Redlands East Valley High School, Donovan scored 17 goals, winning the MVP award. The following year he scored 16 goals and began drawing attention. During his senior year of high school, he joined the U.S. National Soccer Program. After a brief adjustment period, Donovan went on to score 12 goals during his first year with the under-17 club. His team finished fourth at the Youth World Championship in New Zealand.
Professional Career
Donovan's success with the U.S. national team garnered attention from professional teams in the United States and Europe. He signed with the German team Bayer Leverkusen. But being young in an unfamiliar country caused hardships with his career and he played very little. Donvan returned to the United States and played for the San Jose Earthquakes professional team, on loan from his German team. In one season he helped turn the team around and led it to Major League Soccer championship. Still under contract to the German team, Donovan returned to Germany briefly to play for Bayer Leverkusen, but quickly negotiated a deal to end his contract and return to the United States. This time he would play for the Los Angeles Galaxy, who had traded for the rights to sign him.
Olympic and World Cup Career
In 2000, Donovan shined internationally in the Summer Olympics at Sydney, Australia, by helping the American squad advance past the first round for the first time. In 2002, as a member of the U.S. national team, Donovan helped lead the team to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 1930. In 2010 he was also part of a U.S. squad that advanced past the first round in World Cup competition, finishing first in its group.
Record Stats
Donovan has won three Major League Soccer titles and is only one of a handful of players to ever have 60 goals and 60 assists in a season. He has won several MVP awards and has been named the U.S. soccer athlete of the year six times, more than any other player.
