One of the most accomplished players in U.S. history, there might not be anyone more familiar with the state of soccer in this country than Landon Donovan.
And yet, a recent experience involving his 8-year-old son’s club team still caught the Fox Sports World Cup analyst off guard.
“I’ve always been passionate about [youth soccer], but it hit me in the face two weeks ago with my own son,” Donovan told Front Office Sports during a recent episode of Portfolio Players.
The six-time MLS Cup champion explained that his son has played for a “big club” in San Diego over the past two seasons. Recently, however, the club added “bigger, faster, and stronger” players, pushing smaller players like Donovan’s son to its “B-team.”
“I called the people, and I said, ‘What are you guys doing?,’” Donovan said. “I was crying in bed with my son and my wife two weeks ago telling him he was now on the B-team and that he’s not going to be with his friends. We’re trying to couch it like ‘this will be great for you, you’ll play more.’
