Sometime during his separation from his famous teammate, Landon Donovan made a discovery about himself: He needed to become more like David Beckham.
Well, not exactly like him, judging by Donovan's criticism of his Los Angeles Galaxy teammate in a recently published book. Yet Donovan finally recognized the Beckham-style playmaking responsibility that's expected of him after all these years, and he's living up to it.
The former "child prodigy" of American soccer, as described by U.S. National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard, is 27 now. He's accepting everything that comes with playing in his prime during another important cycle for the sport in this country.
"My role, I guess, for whatever team I play with is to be productive," Donovan said during a conference call in advance of Wednesday's MLS All-Star Game at Rio Tinto Stadium. "When I say that, I rely on myself and I think my teammates rely on me to make plays. In the past, I probably didn't embrace that in the right way. Now, I embrace it."
Donovan's high level of performance helped the Americans finish a strong second in the FIFA Confederations Cup last month and is continuing in MLS, with eight goals and five assists in 14 games with the Galaxy. His latest score came via Beckham's assist in Saturday's 1-1 tie at Kansas City, evidence that the two stars are working well together, regardless of how Donovan's characterizing Beckham as a poor teammate and ill-suited captain stirred controversy.
The Beckham Experiment aside, this realization of Donovan's responsibility on the field came "pretty recently, actually," he said. "It's been a long time coming. ... I'm pretty close to where I want to be right now."
Beckham was not chosen to play for the MLS All-Stars against Everton FC, having appeared in only his second league game of the season Saturday. That leaves Donovan to perform his role for the MLS side, which is seemingly nothing new. Donovan long ago emerged as the Beckham of U.S. soccer, glamorous wife and all -- although he and actress Bianca Kajlich recently separated, according to People .
The star of the first class of U.S. soccer academy-nurtured players, Donovan signed with Germany's Bayer Leverkausen at 17. Later loaned to San Jose, he won two MLS championships with the Earthquakes and scored a record four goals in an East-West version of the MLS All-Star Game. He has played for the Galaxy since 2005, with Beckham joining him in '07.
Donovan was disappointed with his own play and the U.S. team's performance in in the 2006 World Cup and is determined to make a better showing next year in South Africa. Howard was impressed with Donovan's performance last month, saying "there's just something special about him."
Coincidentally enough, they will oppose one another Wednesday, with Howard in goal for Everton FC. The meeting comes eight years after Howard surrendered the first MLS goal for Donovan, who can recite every detail of the play.
For Donovan, Wednesday's game is part of another Utah soccer tour, which he welcomes. He scored an extra-time goal in the Galaxy's 2-2 tie with Real Salt Lake in May and will return to Sandy in September for a World Cup qualifier against El Salvador.
Donovan applauds Utah fans as "savvy and knowledgeable," remembering the U.S. team's experience in front of 40,000-plus fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium in a 3-0 win over Costa Rica four years ago. That day, reviewing the team's itinerary leading up to the game, Donovan said with a smile, "I wouldn't necessarily say I liked Provo, but Salt Lake was fun."
Monday, the MLS All-Stars will practice in Park City.
