Everton Rejected Landon Donovan Seven Years Ago

United States international attacking midfielder has joined Everton FC on a loan deal starting January 2nd. The loan deal is intended to keep Donovan at top fitness in preparation for the new MLS season in March as well as help Everton out of the attacker injury crisis that has hampered their season.

Radio Sounders Everton Special Show (opens in new window)

Everton manager Davie Moyes will be pleased to receive the help but he could have had Donovan much earlier, Prost Amerika Soccer has discovered. Speaking on the latest edition of the Radio Sounders show to be broadcast on Thursday, Sounders FC, Evertonian legend Jimmy Gabriel recalled how he called his beloved Toffees in 2002 to recommend Donovan.

He was co-coach of the USA Under 16s with Dean Wurzberger, with whom he later trained the Washington Huskies. Landon Donovan had made 41 appearances for the Under 17s and Gabriel rated the player very highly. In April 2002, the US had a friendly with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin and Donovan was by then on the full squad. Gabriel called Everton’s chief scout Ray Hall and recommended that he travel over to Landsdowne Road in Dublin to check out Donovan.

Sadly for Donovan, the elements took control and a dismal game was played in the pouring rain and on the type of mudpatch you just don’t see that often anymore. Donovan was a second half substitute, replacing Earnie Stewart at half time. He was unable to function on the glue pot field and the USA lost the match 2-1.

Hall was unimpressed with what he had seen of Donovan and Gabriel later received a message from Davie Moyes, that they hadn’t seen anything special from Donovan that would convince them to sign him.

Seven years later, it seems Donovan has finally done enough to impress the wily Toffees boss!

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