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| Thursday, March 29, 2001 18:55 EST |
Striker inks four-year deal with league
[Associated Press]
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Landon Donovan's promising soccer career
stalled in Germany. He hopes to revive it a whole lot closer to
home.
Donovan, a teen-age forward considered one of the top American
soccer players, signed a four-year contract with Major League
Soccer on Thursday and was assigned to the San Jose Earthquakes.
Donovan, 19, was allowed to move to MLS by Bayer Leverkusen of
the German Bundesliga, which signed him to a four-year contract two
years ago. He never got into a game with the German club, and after
several frustrating months abroad, he jumped at the chance to
return to his home state of California.
"I felt to maximize my potential, I needed to be somewhere I
could play," Donovan said. "I'm going to be here for a couple of
years, and hopefully I'll improve my play. I don't know how much
they expect, but I hope it's not too much."
Bayer Leverkusen, which used Donovan in its reserves, has the
option of reacquiring him in two years. Until then, Donovan will
focus exclusively on MLS and his national team duties.
The signing is a coup for MLS, which spent weeks working to
acquire Donovan's rights. The deal was complicated because of
Donovan's lucrative German contract, but Nike, which sponsors
Donovan, reportedly helped facilitate the deal.
Earthquakes general manager Tom Neale was ecstatic Thursday,
calling Donovan "the quintessential future of American soccer."
"We don't want to place undue expectations on Donovan," Neale
said. "That said, Landon symbolizes a lot for American soccer and
for youth soccer in this country."
The Earthquakes won the inside track on Donovan's rights by
virtue of their last-place finish in 2000. After the franchise came
close to folding or moving last season, the Earthquakes have been
stabilized by an agreement in which the NHL's San Jose Sharks took
over the team's operations.
New coach Frank Yallop said Donovan would immediately move into
the Earthquakes' starting lineup alongside El Salvadorian forward
Ronald Cerritos.
"He's a young player, and he's going to develop," Yallop said.
"After two or three years, we want him to be a complete
international player and starting for the U.S. team. We'll bring
him along nicely and teach him the game we want him to play."
Donovan wasn't bitter about his experience in Germany, but he
looked forward to the chance to play every day. Donovan said he
spoke with U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena before making the
move.
"He wants me to play somewhere," Donovan said. "If I didn't
start playing, my immediate future with the national team was
somewhat limited."
The Redlands, Calif., native has starred on several U.S. youth
teams, including the Under-23 team that finished fourth at the 2000
Sydney Olympics. He was selected Most Valuable Player of the 1999
FIFA Under-17 Championship.
In October, he scored against Mexico in his debut with the U.S.
national team. He has made five appearances with the national team,
all in exhibition games.
Donovan broke two ribs last week playing for the United States
in qualifying for this summer's FIFA World Youth Championship for
players under 20. He was dropped from the U.S. roster for
Wednesday's World Cup qualifying win over Honduras.
Neale said Donovan would be questionable for the Earthquakes'
season opener against the Los Angeles Galaxy on April 7, but likely
would play in San Jose's home opener on April 14.
San Jose made room by waiving forward Corey Woolfolk.
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