MLS LA Galaxy

Donovan voted to MLS All-Star First XI

Published on July 13, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Monday, July 13, 2009) - Major League Soccer today unveiled the First XI for the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, with Galaxy captain Landon Donovan included in the team. Donovan and the rest of the MLS All-stars will take on Everton at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah on Wednesday, July 29. That game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on ESPN2 and TeleFutura.

Currently in his ninth season in MLS, Donovan has now been named to the All-Star Team nine times, tying him with three other players for the second most times selected in league history. In his previous All-Star appearances, Donovan has scored five goals, which are tied for the most in MLS history, and added four assists. In his first All-Star Game in 2001, Donovan was named the game's MVP, scoring four goals in a 6-6 draw.

Despite missing five games earlier this season while with the U.S. National Team at the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, Donovan leads the Galaxy with six goals while adding four assists in 12 games so far this season. The 27-year-old Southern California native tallied two goals in the season opening 2-2 draw with D.C. United and has added goals against Colorado, New York, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake.

The second leading scorer in Galaxy history with 58 goals in 108 games for the club, Donovan became the sixth player in MLS history to score 90 career goals in the league earlier this season. Donovan was the 2008 MLS Golden Boot award winner, when he scored a career-best 20 goals while adding nine assists in 25 games.

Online fan balloting comprised 25 percent of the total vote for the All-Star First XI. The remaining 75 percent was comprised of voting by coaches and general managers (25 percent), players (25 percent) and media (25 percent).

On Monday, July 20, Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear and his staff's selections will be announced. Two Commissioner's selections will complete the 18-man game-day roster. Kinnear earned the honor of coaching the MLS side by leading his team to the highest points per game average in the League through games on June 28.

The First XI is not necessarily the starting lineup. Kinnear will select the starters based on player availability and tactical considerations. If First XI selections are unavailable due to injury, international duty or other commitments, Kinnear will select alternates for the game day roster, but all First XI players are All-Stars. The inactive, or alternate All-Star roster, will be announced at a later date.

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