An audacious move by Major League Soccer Commissioner, Don Garber, on July 15, 2010 declared LA Galaxy’s Landon Donovan as an invincible asset to MLS, so he cannot be transferred for the next four years.
Landon Donovan to Earn $2 million Basic Salary
Donovan, who went on a three-month loan to Premier League side, Everton earlier this year, will receive a $2 million basic salary that excludes endorsement fees. He is MLS’s highest paid player who emerged as one of the best players for the United States in South Africa in the just-ended 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament.
After scoring the winning goal against Algeria in injury time to propel the U.S. to win Group C, Donovan became an instant sensation in America. He became the first soccer player to appear on the David Letterman Show, and this week, he emerged with three ESPY awards in soccer, which include the most valuable player award.
Because of Donovan’s dramatic recognition, a recognition afforded only to pop icons and popular politicians, his stock has risen precipitously. Jersey sales and attendance have gone up, so Garber feels the game would lose its attractive appeal in some of its markets, especially in California, if Donovan is transferred.
Soccer Analysts Like Don Garber's Move
Some soccer analysts have endorsed the move as good, even brilliant because keeping Donovan in the country would help win more fresh soccer converts to the game. However, other analysts, like former national team captain, Alexi Lalas, while supporting the move, also feel that “no player should be declared non-expendable, regardless of the country and where he is playing,” said he in a phone conversation with ESPN.
As the U.S.A. prepares for a friendly against Brazil in New Jersey on August 10, the retention of Donovan could come immediately with the knowledge that he would still be around to lead the country against the former world champions, Brazil, who were knocked out of the 2010 World Cup at the quarterfinal stage by the Netherlands.
Brazil is building a new team with a new coach, so they will arrive, fully determined to kick off their determination to win their sixth world cup on home soil in 2014, with a resounding performance against the Americans.
The last time the two nations clashed was in South Africa in the final of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. In that memorable match, Brazil came from a two-goal half time deficit to defeat the U.S. 3-2.
Before the men’s national team takes on Brazil, however, Donovan would be in the MLS All-star starting line up to play against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in Houston on July 28, 2010.
Thierry Henry Is Now a Red Bull
In another development, former French international soccer star, Thierry Henry, 32, has joined MLS outfit, New York Red Bulls in an undisclosed amount and a deal that spans four-and-a-half years.
Henry, France’s all-time leading scorer with 51 goals in 123 international matches, was on the radar screen of the Bulls for two years before the deal became a reality. At the apogee of his career, he prominently featured for Arsenals from 1999 to 2007 where he won three league championships and two FA Cups with them. He scored a whopping 226 goals for Arsene Wenger before transferring to Barcelona.
Henry transferred to Barcelona in 2007 where he aligned forces with Lionel Messi and Samuel E’too to win the league, knockout, and the European Champions League in Spain in the same season, 2008/09. The three forwards combined to score more than 100 goals for Barcelona in that season.
Henry and David Beckham in the Same League
Three years ago, David Beckham, then 31 and with Real Madrid, became the first high profile soccer player to transfer from Europe to play in MLS. Beckam’s move garnered a lot of interest in the League, but the Galaxy is yet to win the MLS championship.
However, Beckham is a midfield player well noted for his defense schism passes, and his passes have to be converted into goals before they would yield dividends.
In Henry, the Red Bulls has a forward player who is deadly in front of goal. His quick thinking, pace, and defense splitting moves would, undoubtedly, result in the Red Bulls scoring many goals.
Henry’s addition to Beckham, Donovan, and the MLS’s other quality performers would add a lot of spice to an already vastly improved League, and soccer fans would be looking forward with feverish expectancy to enjoying Henry’s magical moments for the Red Bulls.
He testified to his important addendum to the Red Bulls: “I like to win, and that’s why I am here,” he said to enthusiastic journalists during his introduction to the media.
Henry is here to score goals for the Red Bulls, but in the process, up-and-coming young American players would learn a lot from him by way of hitting the back of the net with ease, precision, and accurate placement of the ball.
Samuel Doku - Samuel O. Doku is a full time lecturer at Howard University. Before switching professions, he was a seasoned journalist with the ...
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