Prior to the 2015 MLS SuperDraft Thursday, the soccer league honored former Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan with a tribute video and renamed the MLS MVP award “The Landon Donovan MVP Award.”
According to MLSSoccer.com, the 12-inch trophy will be crafted by Tiffany and Co. and will have a Donovan silhouette. Each winner of the award will have their name and team name engraved on the award’s collar.
Donovan retired from professional soccer in December after the Galaxy won the MLS Cup, the sixth of Donovan’s career. He finished his 14-year career with the Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes as the MLS’ all-time leader in goals (144) and assists (136). He was named the league’s MVP during the 2009 season.
At first, Donovan was at a loss for words when he took the podium after the video and announcement.
“As a child, soccer was merely an outlet for me — a way to express myself,” Donovan said in a league statement. “To have this prestigious award named after me is truly unimaginable. Thank you to Commissioner Garber, Major League Soccer and all of the people that have supported me along the way. I am extremely humbled by and proud of this honor.”
While he’s been retired for barely a month, there’s still hope that Donovan will one day return.
More than one MLS coach I’ve talked to here thinks Landon Donovan will eventually come back and play again.
More than one MLS coach I’ve talked to here thinks Landon Donovan will eventually come back and play again.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) January 15, 2015