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LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan Announces Retirement From MLS After 2014 Season

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan announced Thursday he will be retiring at the end of the Major League Soccer 2014 season.

Donovan, 32, posted his retirement plans at 10:30 a.m. on Twitter and his official Facebook page.

"After careful deliberation and after many conversations with those closest to me, I have decided that this will be my last season as a professional soccer player," he said. "I don't write these words lightly and this day carries mixed emotions for me. I am sad to leave a profession that has brought me so much joy."

 

LA Galaxy also posted the news on Twitter.

In his career, Donovan has won five MLS Cups and is the league's all-time top scorer with 136 goals. He is also is the all-time leader in scoring and assists for the United States men's national tema and has the most caps of all active players.

On Wednesday, Donovan scored the winning goal on the MLS All-Star team, defeatung Bayern Munich 2-1.

Though Donovan was cut from the 2014 World Cup roster in a highly debated move by coach Jurgen Klinsmann, he was hired by ESPN to offer commentary on the U.S. soccer team.

Many turned to social media to share their thoughts about the announcement:

"I feel incredibly blessed and lucky to have played a role in the remarkable growth of MLS and US Soccer during my playing career. And while my career as a player will soon be over, rest assured I will stay connected on many levels to the beautiful game," he wrote on Facebook. "As we enter a transformative time for the sport, I will do everything I can to help the continued growth of soccer in the United States."

Donovan, who has played for LA Galaxy since 2005, was born in Ontario and also played for the San Jose Earthquakes from 2001–2004.

RELATED STORIES:

Galaxy's Landon Donovan Hired By ESPN For World Cup Coverage

USA Head Coach Jurgen Klinsman Cuts Galaxy Star Landon Donovan From World Cup Team

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