He’s back. Again.
Landon Donovan plans to unretire for a third time and play for the San Diego Sockers of the Major Arena Soccer League according to multiple reports. SI.com reports the team will make a formal announcement Thursday.
Donovan first retired in 2014, but he returned to play for the LA Galaxy in the MLS at the end of the 2016 season. Then after retiring again, he came back to play for Club León in Mexico last January.
His third retirement lasted about seven months, which is shorter than his first two. Donovan ended his career a third time last June.
If his stint with the Sockers is his last run, Donovan will finish his career with his hometown team. He’s lived in San Diego in recent years and attempted to help bring an MLS expansion team to the city.
Donovan is the all-time leader in goals and assists for both the U.S. Men’s national team and the MLS. According to SI.com, he will make his debut with the Sockers on Feb. 15 against the Tacoma Stars.
San Diego sits in first place of the Pacific Division with a 10-1 record. The Sockers will have Donovan for 10 more regular season games after Feb. 15 and then the playoffs begin towards the end of April.
Here are some of the best Twitter reactions to Donovan unretiring for a third time:
It's LANDON DONOVAN!!! pic.twitter.com/dY8eaERq4V
— Rusty Shackleford🏴⚔ (@geoffcmiller) January 23, 2019
Landon Donovan coming out of retirement got me like pic.twitter.com/WQ57nyxyLt
— TommyHerring (@TommyHerring2) January 23, 2019
Breaking News: Landon Donovan is actually Brett Favre. https://t.co/z8Zf0gGLkv
— Jonathan Low (@JonathanLow16) January 23, 2019
If Landon's still in shape and got it, why shouldn't he play?
— Tamira_Madsen (@tamiramadsen) January 23, 2019
Backyard Soccer successfully predicted Landon Donovan playing indoor soccer all the way back in 2004. https://t.co/2aHexpixMt
— Brendan Farrell (@Bfarrell727) January 23, 2019
Landon Donovan coming out of retirement once again. That man should have never left.
— Kelby Ferrell (@KelbyFerrell) January 23, 2019
Landon Donovan just can't stay away, looking forward to see if he can dominate the indoor soccer game too
— E. Hambone (@TheHambone10) January 23, 2019
I don’t think Landon Donovan will ever retire.
— Daniel Flores (@dansportsnews) January 23, 2019
Landon Donovan is back 😍😍
— A-A-RON (@BleedOrange007) January 23, 2019
