Why Landon Donovan’s Return to Professional Soccer is Bad for the MLS

To this day, whenever my dad and I discuss soccer in the United States, he always mentions Landon Donovan. “Is he as good as Landon Donovan?” “Do you still follow Landon Donovan?”

There are two reasons for this – he remembers how much I admired Landon and he doesn’t follow the USMNT closely enough to know names like Christian Pulisic or John Brooks. If pressed, he might be able to come up with the name Clint Dempsey.

I mention this to illustrate how big of a fan I am of Landon and to show that for many, he is still the face of the USMNT.

However, the MLS has long been branded a retirement league for players around the world. Starting with David Beckham and onto the likes of David Villa, Andrea Pirlo, Didier Drogba, and Frank Lampard among many others.

In the last couple of years, the league has tried to shed that image with some success after the signing of younger players like Italian Sebastian Giovinco from world-renowned Juventus at the age of 28, American Michael Bradley from also world-renowned Roma at the age of 27, fellow American Jozy Altidore from English club Sunderland at the age of 25, and Mexican Giovani Dos Santos from Spanish club Villareal, also at the age of 25. All of which were still in their prime at the time of the signing.

Earlier this year, Jordan Morris, a highly-touted 21-year old from Stanford University, reportedly had an offer from German club Werder Bremen which he turned down to play for the Seattle Sounders. Morris’ decision to play in the MLS rather than the Bundesliga is perhaps the best example of younger talent choosing to play in the MLS.

At 34 years of age, Landon would hardly be the oldest player in the league. According to transfermarket.com, that spot is currently held by Didier Drogba. In fact, Landon would be the 29^th oldest player, just behind USMNT stalwart, Jermaine Jones. But Landon is far from being young and to think that he is anywhere near fit enough to play would be a joke.

Compare this to perhaps the most well-known athlete to come out of retirement: Michael Jordan. While you might be able to suggest that, like Jordan is arguably the best to ever play in the NBA, Landon is arguably the best to ever play in the MLS. However, you would be overlooking the fact that the NBA is the best basketball league in the world. The MLS is very far from the best soccer league in the world.

Reportedly, Landon is in contention to make the bench for LA Galaxy’s September 12^th matchup with Orlando City. This is less than a week after the announcement that Landon would be returning to the Galaxy. Consider this – even as one of the best players to adorn the USA jersey and any jersey in the MLS, Landon was probably still just an average player in his prime. At least 5-6 years after his prime and 2 years after playing a professional match, Landon is able to suit up for a professional team?

I don’t think this says very much about the level of play in the MLS and if the league would like to shed the image of being a retirement league, and they may not even care for all I know, then they are taking a few steps backwards.