The Official Site of Landon Donovan

Tue, Aug 11th 2009, 11:24

ESPN.com: Donovan the undisputed leader of the U.S. team

He may well be the greatest player the United States has ever produced, but Landon Donovan never seemed able to shake the swirl of questions and controversy that surrounded him. In fact, Donovan may be more admired outside the country than he ever has been by American fans, some of whom had labeled him with the derisive nickname of “Landycakes” and questioned his heart.

That is, until this summer.

Now no one questions Landon Donovan, who grew not only in stature but into a leader during July’s Confederations Cup. Ironically, in the midst of the tournament came the news that Donovan was at the center of a brewing book controversy. After an excerpt of a book focused on Los Angeles teammate David Beckham hit the newsstands, most media attention focused on Donovan’s pointed criticism of the English midfielder.

However, after sterling performances against the likes of Spain and Brazil, it’s “Landycakes” no more. Asked if he was trying to prove a point at the Confederations Cup, Donovan indicated that wasn’t the case.

“I wasn’t ‘showing’ anybody anything at the Confederations Cup,” Donovan said. “My goal was to play the way that I know how to play, regardless of outside circumstances. I have spent too much time in my career worrying about things that are beyond my control, and I am now focusing solely on the things I can control.”

Donovan has often worn the captain’s armband for both club and country, but he is now unquestioningly the leader of both. As it stands, it’s not the Donovan who “failed” at Leverkusen and limped home to MLS or the player who had a quiet 2006 World Cup that fans remember.

As the United States takes the field against Mexico on Wednesday, looking for its first-ever victory in Azteca, it will be Donovan who leads them. It’s a part of his game that others have seen grow and develop.

“The thing that stands out the most to me is his willingness to step up in difficult situations. His willingness to take responsibility of being the hero or the goat. That takes character,” said former national team captain and defender Eddie Pope, who played with Donovan on the national team from 2000 to 2006. “He stepped up to take a very important penalty in the qualifier this summer against Honduras and then again in the Confederations Cup against Italy. So on the field Landon is leading by example.”

Donovan is viewed as a quiet, stoic type, and that calm demeanor sometimes works against him when fans expect raw emotion. Donovan has always suffered a perception issue, stemming largely from two failed stints with Leverkusen which led him back to MLS on both occasions.

“Many think that Landon is always quiet. However, when the time is right, he always speaks up and says the right thing to lift the team and get it moving in the right direction,” Pope said. “He doesn’t just mouth off all the time with the rah-rah rhetoric. He is one of those leaders who understands that it’s not how much you say but what you say.”

Continue reading at ESPN.com….