Landon Donovan Talks Soccer With SoccerToday
SoccerToday talks with Landon Donovan on youth soccer development as he takes a break from training talented youth soccer players at the SDFA and Celtic FC Youth Academy camp in San Diego. Recently moving his family from LA to America’s Finest City, Donovan now calls San Diego home.
Soccer News: Celtic Football Club Youth Academy and San Diego Football Academy joined forces to develop youth soccer players and just finished a week long UK Academy-style training camp in San Diego where players enjoyed the opportunity to learn the Celtic Way — and get tips from America’s all-time greatest soccer star, Landon Donovan who happily joined in friendly scrimmage.
“We are very excited to partner with a world-class organization like Celtic FC,” said Johnson Asiedu, SDFA Technical Director. “Celtic is more than just a football club. It’s a family. It’s a way of life, and we are happy to be a part of this family. It is really wonderful that Celtic FC was able to bring Landon Donovan to this camp — all the players and coaches loved listening to Donovan as he shared his experiences and then held a special training session.”
U.S. Soccer agrees that Donovan is an American soccer legend. As the all-time leader in goals and assists for the U.S. Men’s National Team as well as Major League Soccer, Donovan was a top youth player when he was a teenager. Landon was a youth soccer player in the inaugural class of the U.S. Soccer Residency program at Bradenton, Florida. In 2014, the 34-year-old super soccer star retired at the top of his game after the LAGalaxy became MLS Cup Champions. And, yes, for youth players out there — like Messi, Donovan has also missed an important PK in front of millions of people.
A California native, Donovan is charming, humble and sincerely interested in sharing his talents with youth soccer players across America. Donovan’s goal for the future is to help San Diego get an MLS team. On was on site at La Jolla Country Day School for a special appearance at the SDFA / Celtic FC soccer camp, Donovan was relaxed and happy to share this perspective of youth soccer in America.
In fact, Donovan wore a new green and white striped Celtic jersey and took pictures with the players and coaches — laughing with the players and their families as selfies were taken.
Diane Scavuzzo: Before we discuss youth soccer in America, there is a crowd of people watching you through the fence — and they all wanted to know what was your favorite food to eat?
Landon Donovan: Probably sushi. And, all the other foods I couldn’t eat when I was playing professional soccer. (Answering with a smile.)
Diane Scavuzzo: How does it feel to be retired from pro soccer?
Landon Donovan: It’s really fun. I do miss some of the game days when I’m at the stadium but it’s fun because I get to do things like visit with these players at the Celtic FC – San Diego Football Academy camp. When I was playing, I did not have the chance to do things like this.
Diane Scavuzzo: What else are you enjoying? 
Landon Donovan: All sorts of things. I got to go to the Masters Golf Tournament last year. I got to go to the US Open Tennis. I get to do these kinds of clinics. I get to see my family more. I get to have a life.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you think of the youth soccer players today?
Landon Donovan: They’re just so much further ahead than I was. At every age, every one of these kids are so much further ahead.
We may feel like we’re not progressing sometimes if we watch the U.S. National Team lose, but I see all these youth soccer players and they’re so much further along than we were … It makes you think it’s only a matter of time.
Diane Scavuzzo: How did you get involved with the Celtics FC – San Diego Football Academy?
Landon Donovan: I went to a charity event at Del Mar Country Club about a month ago. A good friend of mine asked if I would donate a couple hours to working with a club. Before they put it up for auction, a Celtic FC coach said can we just pay whatever we need to pay to get it done and they did.
Diane Scavuzzo: Have you traveled over to the Celtics FC?
Landon Donovan: I have not. I’ve never been to Scotland. I’ve met a lot of people that work for the club and am impressed – they are really passionate about what they do.
Diane Scavuzzo: One of your coaches Scottish?
Landon Donovan: Probably my favorite coach – David Moyes – when I played at Everton FC.
Ironically, I told these kids the first club that I played for was the Upland Celtics. I knew nothing about Celtic Football Club but I wore these same green and white jerseys when I was 9 and 10 years old.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you think about all these EPL and European clubs coming over to the USA?
Landon Donovan: They’re smart. They’re trying to build their brand and they know there are 300 plus million people in this country and a lot of kids that play soccer.
If they find one or two players who play for the first team that’s great. How many of these kids at today’s session are going to be professional? Probably zero, but they’re helping these kids out a lot and teaching them things they might never learn. So, I give them a lot of credit for doing it the right way.
Diane Scavuzzo: How do you think the United States’ love affair with soccer has grown in the last few years?
Landon Donovan: Well you’ve seen it. I’ve seen it. There is a lot of telling by benchmarks along the way. I commentated on the U.S. versus Argentina soccer match a few days ago. When the score was 3-0, I had my headset on and I was curious what the crowd was thinking. Are there more Argentina fans, more Messi fans or more American fans?
When I took my headset off and, with 70,000 people in Houston, it was dead silent, which made me realize they’re all American fans, which didn’t happen ten years ago.
There are all these little things that happen along the way that make you realize that we are gaining momentum with soccer.
Diane Scavuzzo: What did you think of Messi missing his PK?
Landon Donovan: I’ve been in the situation; everybody who has played at the highest level has missed a penalty.
I know what it meant for him and his country and you could see it in his face, so you just feel bad for him.
Missing a penalty happens to everybody; everyone wants to say it’s so easy, but I’ve been in the same situation so I have compassion.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is it like to miss a penalty?
Landon Donovan: I’ve missed a lot. Ironically, I missed an almost identical PK to Messi’s — in the 2009 MLS Cup.
I hit it over the bar — almost in the exact same spot, on the other side, because I’m right footed.
When I got back on the bus that night I was really sad and I was crying. I felt bad and, as time passed on the bus ride back, I started to realize that I put everything I had into the whole year.
I did everything I could and I missed a penalty – it happens. For Messi, when you watch the Copa America tournament, he gave everything to win. So, at the end of the day, sometimes you miss.
Diane Scavuzzo: When all these youth kids miss a PK, they feel the world’s collapsed around them. They never think a professional misses – what do you say to them?
Landon Donovan: This is the silver lining, right? The best player on the planet missed one in a game like that — you can say, “Okay, we’re all human and we all make mistakes.” We all want to win and be great now, but — as I said, everyone does.
