Every season MLS puts together a squad of the best players in the league, as well as a group of homegrown players to take on some of the worlds best clubs. In the hodgepodge mixture of players from around the country, it is their opportunity to showoff their talents on a national stage.
As the players come in to form the newest edition of the homegrown squad, so too does a new coach. And what better coach could the MLS choose than Landon Donovan himself, one of America’s most influential and decorated players we have seen in the modern era? His new appointment is to create the homegrown roster and lead them to battle against the U-20 Club America team.
Landon Donovan. He does it all. Photo: @rapids_fanly | Twitter
“I am truly honored to coach the MLS Homegrown Team in the year’s Chipotle MLS Homegrown game. As someone that was developed in MLS, I hope I can provide some insight to these young players and help them reach their goals of becoming successful professionals” Donovan said during his interview after being appointed head coach.
The match will be played in a series of games and festivities at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, home of the Colorado Rapids. Later. the MLS All-Stars will take on Tottenham Hotspur.
Though Donovan has yet to announce who will be part of his squad, Gyasi Zardes and Bill Hamid have been involved with the homegrown teams of the past and are now regulars in the USA national team.
The match will take place Tuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m. MST. The entire All-Star weekend events can be found here.
