Donovan 'In Control' of His Own Galaxy

He's dealing with a divorce and a highly-publicized conflict with teammate David Beckham, along with the stress and strain of international competition. Yet Landon Donovan is playing perhaps the best soccer of his career. How can this be? FanHouse speaks with Donovan's teammates, coaches and the man himself to figure out what's changed.

He may very well be the most talented field player this country has ever produced, yet Landon Donovan has been far from beloved. His failure to stick with Bayer Leverkusen, his poor 2006 World Cup, his occasionally grating personality and his bizarre mannerisms seem to have trumped his accomplishments in the eyes of many American soccer fans and observers.

This summer, the mercurial forward has proven he is worthy of a reassessment. Despite distractions that would have derailed him in the past, Donovan has inspired the Los Angeles Galaxy's return to prominence and the U.S. national team's run to the Confederations Cup final with the best soccer of his career -- soccer that belies a change of attitude and that he confirmed has been noticed across the Atlantic.

Following L.A.'s tie in Washington on Saturday, Donovan and a couple of colleagues discussed that new attitude, his play and his future.

The evidence for Donovan's rebirth is undeniable. The player who used to appear as if he took the field with the weight of the world on his shoulders is gone. Rightfully criticized for his nervous, tentative performances in the summer of 2006, Donovan finally seems to have developed faith in his own abilities. He is secure in his captaincy with his club, clearly confident on the ball and eager to challenge opposing defenses. At the moment, he must be considered the frontrunner for this year's MLS MVP award thanks to his 10 goals and five assists in 18 games for the resurgent Galaxy.

It had always seemed to be about comfort with Donovan, who told FanHouse over the weekend that his fuel now comes from within, that there is interest from abroad and that he is ready to prove himself on the global stage.

"I am in control of what I do, and before I thought different things determined how I would play or how I would respond or how I would act on the field," he said. "I'm in control of that now, so, and knowing that I'm in control of it means I know what my ability is. I know what I'm capable of and I bring it every time."

That assertion can't just be dismissed as wishful thinking. Not this year. It's hard to imagine the overly-sensitive Donovan of the past playing through the release of The Beckham Experiment and the ensuing questions about his relationship with his famous teammate, and it's even harder to believe the old Donovan would be playing at this level as he negotiated the pain and distraction of his impending divorce from actress Bianca Kajlich. On top of that, he's had a busy summer with the national team and has played high-profile games in South Africa, Costa Rica and Mexico City, all while knowing that potential employers abroad are watching. He's had every excuse to crumble.

"He's got a lot going on, from bouncing back and forth with the national team and constantly playing at a high level here in MLS. He's done a very good job preparing his body and preparing his mind to be ready when he steps on the field," veteran Galaxy midfielder Chris Klein told FanHouse. "From being around Landon, I definitely see a difference in his preparation for games. It started last year with him and he's more focused. I think he grasps now the ability he has to take over a game and he's starting to demonstrate that. He's demonstrating that with us and he demonstrates that with the national team and it's just tremendous to watch. The sky's the limit with him."

L.A. is in second place in the West at 8-4-11, and demonstrated its playoff mettle last week with a win at Chicago (without the suspended David Beckham) and a 0-0 draw at RFK against a desperate, full-strength United side. The Galaxy is 5-1-2 since Donovan returned from the Confederations Cup.

"I'm doing the things I'm good at," he said. "I'm helping the team in all ways, competing, being agressive. And when I do that, I play well."

Asked about Donovan's maturation, L.A. coach Bruce Arena said: "Well, his attitude is great and his leadership is great. He's more consistent. He's not up and down from game to game. He goes out and he's a good performer each and every game and that's really the charge of quality players, good players that have to bring that consistency game in and game out, and Landon's certainly beginning to achieve that.

"It's mental. It has nothing to do with technique. It had to do with whatever's between your ears."

Klein scoffed at the possibility that Donovan should have to do anything more to prove himself to the detractors, calling it "mind boggling" that any critics might remain. "He's got a realization now of what he can do and the ability he has and he's starting to use that," he said. "He's only 27. He's still maturing and he's still yet to hit that prime stage of his career."

That prime stage is coming fast, however, and Donovan knows that his play in MLS and with the national team won't answer the questions lingering from his two failed stints in Leverkusen and his inability to stick with Bayern Munich during a loan spell last winter. To cement his status, he must leave his California comfort zone and excel consistently at the highest level. On Saturday, Donovan confirmed to FanHouse that there is interest from abroad and that this time, he is ready.

"I'm in the moment very much right now. If something comes up that's serious I'll look at it. There's been some interest but at this point, nothing's going to happen until at least the winter, so I will address it then. For now, there's nothing I can do about it so I'm not going to think about it," he said.

That seems to be the key to the new Donovan -- staying in the moment and focusing only on those things that will help him on the field.

"I'm just more grounded, more centered, and I know what's in me and I know how to bring it out of me," he said. "Wherever I play it's going to be that way. I'm not going to let it go. It's too much fun."