Landon Donovan wants to help make Premier League side Swansea City “America’s club.” Donovan, 35, was named an adviser by Swansea owners Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien after they acquired the club last summer.

The former U.S. international recently made his first visit to Swansea, and said he wants to help expand the club’s profile around the globe.
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The United States of America have promised to partner their South American neighbours Mexico and their Northern counterparts Canada to submit a three-nation bid for the 2026 World Cup.

The US Soccer chief Sunil Gulati, the Mexican Football Federation president Decio de Maria and the Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montaglianihave made the pledge to submit an official bid to host the world’s biggest football tournament.

The bid would likely favour joint heads going by the stance of current FIFA president Gianni Infantino – it is one of his promises as he took office, aside the expansion of the event. Two nations combined to host the 2002 World Cup but this would be first time three countries would be combining resources.

The United States remain the ‘main’ host as they have 60 games allotted to them while the two partners would stage ten games apiece as FIFA extend the number of participants from 32 to 48.

“When our nations come together as one, as we will for 2026, there is no question the United States, Mexico and Canada will deliver an experience that will celebrate the game, serve players, supporters and partners alike,” Gulati said at a press conference as they made the pledge. (more…)

Landon Donovan might be out of the active games, but he is still leading new teams and introducing fresh spirit in US soccer in different ways.

For instance, an MLS home grown team has been picked by him and it is said that he would be leading this team against his old adversaries.

This is the third year that he has been part of the coaching team that has been working on MLS as well as the national team of US. The home grown team competed in the 2016 Chipotle MLS home grown game which will be featured on July 27th in San Jose. This will be a day before the all star MLS game is played against the heavyweights like Arsenal FC of the English Premier League. The opponents of the team this year would be the under 20 team from Mexico. They had been winners of the U20 Championship that was held in 2015.

The selections for the upcoming game include players from Seattle Sounders like Jordan Morris and others like Tommy Thompson, who is a skillful international player from the Bay Area. (more…)

Everton captain Phil Neville has said that the club will be extremely missing the services of Landon Donovan and also Landon Donovan as a person. The LA Galaxy star has returned to the MLS side after the conclusion of his loan spell. Landon Donovan spent about two months on loan at Everton in his second spell at the Merseyside club. In very much the same way as his first spell, Landon Donovan was inspirational for Everton in every match he played for the Merseyside club. One of the best matches Everton played in recent seasons was the 2-0 win over Chelsea recently, in which Landon Donovan played a great part.

Now that he has returned to the American soil to continue playing in the MLS, Everton midfielder Phil Neville has said that Everton will surely miss him. The 30-year-old striker is regarded as one of the greatest American players. Everton tried numerous times to make Landon Donovan a permanent signing at Goodison Park, but they had every other offer rebuffed. Due to the contractual nature of the loan spell, Landon Donovan was unable to make his final appearance in the match against Blackpool. Everton were taking on Blackpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

“Last time he came here, he lit the place up. He came back this time a couple of years older and with more expectation on his shoulders. He was really on a hiding to nothing and I think this time he’s performed even better. I know how he felt when he had to miss the game. He was devastated,” Neville said of Landon Donovan on the official website of Everton. Due to the impressive form of Landon Donovan, Everton have climbed up to the 10th position in the table after a slight threat of relegation earlier in the season.

Everton manager David Moyes has praised Landon Donovan for the instant impact he had for Everton in the match against Aston Villa. Landon Donovan made his debut in the second spell at Everton. The Merseyside club signed the American International on a loan deal for about two months from MLS side LA Galaxy.

He was expected to play a part in the match against Aston Villa at Villa Park, but David Moyes elected to start with the American International, who was given the number nine shirt on his return to Goodison Park. Landon Donovan played his part in the match, as he was influential in Everton getting the equaliser back through Anichebe.

After the match, David Moyes was full of praise for the American, who is especially known for his dribbling skills and exceptional pace. It is exactly what Everton need at the moment given that their source of creativity – Mikel Arteta – has departed to Arsenal. Everton are thought to have paid LA Galaxy around £ 2 million for the loan deal of Landon Donovan, but David Moyes will be aware of the fact that it is money well spent and will also be looking to sign the American on a permanent deal. Other players who have come from MLS include Robbie Keane and Thierry Henry.

“Robbie Keane and Thierry Henry have come back to the Premier League from America and they need a bit of time to settle because of having a break since the end of the MLS. But Landon has come in and played three or four 90 minute games already on the bounce since he arrived and that says a lot,” David Moyes said after the match. Landon Donovan was not only offering Everton the quality that they badly need, but also the work rate as well according to David Moyes.

Everton look forward this week to the imminent return of American striker Landon Donovan, from his full-time captaincy of MLS team LA Galaxy. Donovan spends the rest of his season in the states, playing for his club and ensuring their continuing success in the domestic league, aided by both David Beckham and Robbie Keane.

However, once the US league finishes, he returns to Everton, and this year his services are needed like never before. Two years ago, he made his debut on loan at Goodison Park, and scored two valuable goals which kick-started Everton’s season. Since then he has gone from strength to strength, winning and MLS Cup, and becoming the USA’s all time international goal scorer.

Donovan begins a two month loan spell at the Liverpool-based club in January when the transfer window reopens, and Everton must make the most of his talent to help their goal tally. In the last 7 games, they have lost four, drawn one and won just two and sit only 4 points from the relegation zone, though they have a game in hand over most of their immediate rivals. They have scored 6 in the last 7 games, and would benefit hugely from a forward capable of scoring consistently, and Donovan will hopefully fit the bill perfectly.

Another intriguing encounter that the striker’s return will provide is the showdown with Tottenham’s American keeper Brad Friedal. In a recent interview Friedal compared Donovan with his compatriot Clint Dempsey, who plays for Fulham. The keeper thought that Donovan had taken “the easy road” by opting to play in America in a league of lower quality, compared to Dempsey who remains in the English Premiership. The two players meet on the 11th of January, and the battle between the striker and keeper will be watched closely by the American audience, as each will be eager to come out on top.

LA Galaxy Asst. Coach Dave Sarachan on Landon Donovan’s Everton Debut. Filmed throughout the Everton-Arsenal match above breakfast at Waxy O’Connor’s in Ft. Lauderdale.

#FACup :: Ashley Cole vs Everton looking like Landon Donovan vs Real Salt Lake in 2009 MLS Finals. Haha! I will never forget that! #MLS #RSL – by smackdowntay (Taylor Fugate)

Everton could truly use Landon Donovan. And I indicate that severely. – by ayjay (Alan Jacobs)

@landondonovan just on the way again property! &quotonce Everton has touched you, nothing at all else will at any time be the same&quot. Exhibit A – Landon Donovan. – by johnpneedham84 (John Needham)