LA Galaxy player Landon Donovan is the MLS Player of the Week for Week 29, the league announced on Monday. Donovan moves into a tie for the all-time MLS assist record with three assists in the 4-0 shutout of the New York Red Bulls. Donovan also scored, factoring in all four of the Galaxy goals.
“I think all of these games at home now for us are big,” Donovan said of the shutout of the Red Bulls. “Obviously a New York game on a Sunday when we probably have a lot of people watching is a little more exciting. For us, it’s about continuing to get points. We relish the chance to play in these games. We don’t want to win, we want to win well. We want to win in style, and I think tonight we were dominant in the way we played.”
This is Donovan’s fourth MLS Player of the Week award and third this month after winning back-to-back awards in weeks 25 and 26. Donovan announced earlier this season that he plans on retiring at the end of 2014. That created new pressure for the all-time assists record of 135 held by former New England Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston. Donovan leads MLS this season in assists with 18, four more than LA Galaxy teammate Robbie Keane and Portland Timbers designated player Diego Valeri.
“Congratulations,” Keane said. “I knew it was fairly close, and I said to keep going. Keep getting more assists… So I always tell him to keep going. To have the most goals and the most assists, it’s an incredible achievement for anybody.”
Donovan already holds the MLS all-time goal scoring record with 144. He is 6th all-time in minutes played, a category led by former LA Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
