Landon Donovan MVP

[Sinter]

well if Johnson is the one taking the pk's it helps

[Frank Cunha]

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/sports/ar...29145609990013

2 1/2 months that's all it tooks

[Ricochet]

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/3499612

Donovan won't return to Leverkusen, which says he will join MLS

BERLIN (AP) - Landon Donovan will not be returning to Bayer Leverkusen, which said on Tuesday he will rejoin Major League Soccer after 2 1/2 months in Germany.

The 23-year-old forward, the U.S. player of the year for three straight years, expressed frustration over his lack of playing time.

"I think several things came together," Bayer Leverkusen spokesman Uli Dost told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "He had the possibility built into his contract to leave if he wanted. This is the logical consequence. He will join a MLS team, whichever one."

The Los Angeles Times reported on Friday that the Los Angeles Galaxy were close to sending Guatemalan forward Carlos Ruiz to Dallas so they could acquire Donovan. Galaxy general manager Doug Hamilton has refused comment.

Donovan, according to Dost, told Leverkusen coach Klaus Augenthaler that he didn't want to return during a telephone call from Mexico City, where the United States lost to Mexico 2-1 on Sunday in a World Cup qualifier.

"The coach said, 'OK, you can leave,"' Dost said.

Carie Goldberg, an associate of Donovan's agent, Richard Motzkin, said no documents for any deal had been sent yet to Motzkin's office. MLS spokesman Dan Courtemanche did not immediately return a telephone message.

Donovan said on Tuesday he wouldn't make a decision on his club future until after Wednesday's home World Cup qualifier against Guatemala.

He made just two starts after rejoining Bayer Leverkusen in January. While he got into another seven games as a substitute, it was mostly in the waning minutes. He was criticized for not playing well in a Champions League game against Liverpool on March 7, when he was taken out after 52 minutes in a 3-1 loss, and he hasn't played since.

Donovan signed with Leverkusen in 1999, when he was 17, but didn't get into a game and was sent to the San Jose Earthquakes of MLS two years later. Donovan starred for the United States at the 2002 World Cup.

[Ricochet]

BAYER TO CANCEL DONOVAN CONTRACT

[Frank Cunha]

Galaxy trades Ruiz to Dallas, paving way for Donovan's return

CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Los Angeles traded high-scoring forward Carlos Ruiz to FC Dallas on Wednesday, putting the Galaxy in position to acquire U.S. national team star Landon Donovan.

Donovan is returning to Major League Soccer after a 2 1/2-month stint with Bayer Leverkusen, an official with the German team said Tuesday. Galaxy spokesman Patrick Donnelly declined comment when asked if the trade would mean the team would obtain Donovan.

Donovan was in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday to play for the U.S. in a World Cup qualifier against Guatemala.

Ruiz scored 50 goals in 72 games with the Galaxy over three seasons and was the league's MVP in 2002, when he helped the Galaxy win the MLS Cup.

"Carlos has accomplished some great things during his time in a Galaxy uniform," Los Angeles general manager Doug Hamilton said. "Making this move now allows us the greatest opportunity to maximize the value he represents, when considering that he has only nine months left on his contract, and that despite repeated efforts on our behalf, we have been unable to extend our relationship."

Donovan, the national player of the year for three consecutive years, had expressed frustration over his lack of playing time with Bayer Leverkusen.

Under MLS rules, teams receive allocations allowing them to sign international players and U.S. national team players returning to the league under a formula combining how the team fared in the previous season and whether it lost an allocated player.

FC Dallas had the highest-ranking allocation because it missed the playoffs last season. Donovan played four seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes before returning to Bayer Leverkusen, which originally signed him when he was 16 in 1999.

San Jose traded a portion of the allocation it received to compensate for Donovan's departure to the MetroStars for midfielder Ricardo Clark

[Frank Cunha]

Galaxy trades Ruiz to Dallas, paving way for Donovan's return

CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Los Angeles traded high-scoring forward Carlos Ruiz to FC Dallas on Wednesday, putting the Galaxy in position to acquire U.S. national team star Landon Donovan.

Donovan is returning to Major League Soccer after a 2 1/2-month stint with Bayer Leverkusen, an official with the German team said Tuesday. Galaxy spokesman Patrick Donnelly declined comment when asked if the trade would mean the team would obtain Donovan.

Donovan was in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday to play for the U.S. in a World Cup qualifier against Guatemala.

Ruiz scored 50 goals in 72 games with the Galaxy over three seasons and was the league's MVP in 2002, when he helped the Galaxy win the MLS Cup.

"Carlos has accomplished some great things during his time in a Galaxy uniform," Los Angeles general manager Doug Hamilton said. "Making this move now allows us the greatest opportunity to maximize the value he represents, when considering that he has only nine months left on his contract, and that despite repeated efforts on our behalf, we have been unable to extend our relationship."

Donovan, the national player of the year for three consecutive years, had expressed frustration over his lack of playing time with Bayer Leverkusen.

Under MLS rules, teams receive allocations allowing them to sign international players and U.S. national team players returning to the league under a formula combining how the team fared in the previous season and whether it lost an allocated player.

FC Dallas had the highest-ranking allocation because it missed the playoffs last season. Donovan played four seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes before returning to Bayer Leverkusen, which originally signed him when he was 16 in 1999.

San Jose traded a portion of the allocation it received to compensate for Donovan's departure to the MetroStars for midfielder Ricardo Clark

[Frank Cunha]

Landon is back
http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/MLS/lag/

[Frank Cunha]

http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/MLS/news...=.jsp&team=lag

[Frank Cunha]

let's hope Donovan can bring some of the kids to the games::leedswac

[BethlehemFC]

I know this might not be a popular opinion, but I respect his decision and I'm happy he's back. I'd rather have a happy Landon Donovan in the MLS than an unhappy one overseas.

He may not be playing in one of the top leagues in the world, but if he's happier in the US then I honestly he should play here. Just my opinion.

[Frank Cunha]

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"The situation in Germany definitely didn't go as planned. The last two weeks, it became very evident that I was not going to play. Then it became simple. I need to play soccer, not only for my professional career, but for me personally -- it makes me happy. Sitting on the bench anywhere is not fun for me. When this opportunity came, it was a no-brainer."
-- Landon Donovan on leaving German club Bayer Leverkusen to join MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy in a $1.3 million transfer deal.

[Frank Cunha]

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

[Frank Cunha]

at 22 already with 24 goals in 65 caps, he again saved the USA

http://www.nj.com/sportsflash/metros...occer#continue

[Frank Cunha]

Coach Bruce Arena gave some of his inexperienced players a chance against the Cubans, auditions for possible roster spots in future World Cup qualifiers or next year's tournament in Germany. Santino Quaranta, Brad Davis and Jimmy Conrad all started and made their first international appearances.

Donovan started on the sidelines, before entering in the second half.

Oft-injured John O'Brien made just his second appearance for the United States since the 2002 World Cup, his first since an exhibition against Venezuela in Seattle on March 29, 2003.

[Frank Cunha]

Donovan makes $900 thousand dollars a year

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...070601876.html