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Landon Donovan is the best-ever player in MLS history, and it’s no surprise that the team with which he spent the bulk of his career, the LA Galaxy, will be honoring him later this year.
The Galaxy announced Tuesday they will unveil a statue of Donovan at Legends Plaza at Dignity Health Sports Park on Oct. 3, before El Trafico. Donovan will also be inducted into the Galaxy’s Ring of Honor on that day.
“Growing up, I never would have imagined being honored with a statue. It’s a very special feeling of which I’m incredibly proud,” said Donovan in a statement released by the club. “I spent some of the most formative years of my life with the Galaxy and the club’s fans are a part of my family. I’m proud to share a moment like this with them.”
Deeply Grateful @LandonDonovan speaks about the newest statue in Legends Plaza pic.twitter.com/noVY87lyPu
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 3, 2021
Donovan will be the second Galaxy legend to get his own statue, following David Beckham in 2019. While Beckham swept in a new era in MLS and is one of the most influential figures in league history as a result, while also being a pretty good player for LA, Donovan was Galaxy through and through across 11 seasons, winning four MLS Cups, two Supporters’ Shields and a U.S. Open Cup title in an illustrious career at the club.
For the Ring of Honor, Donovan will be the fifth person honored, joining Beckham, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Cobi Jones and former executive Doug Hamilton.
The honors are justly deserved and with it looking pretty definitively that Donovan won’t be coming back to play pro soccer again, it’s high time to give him official legend status.
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