NEW YORK (Thursday, July 9, 2015) – Major League Soccer today announced that MLS and U.S. Soccer legend Landon Donovan will coach the MLS Homegrown Team at the 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game. The MLS Homegrowns will take on the Club América U-20s at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Tuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m. MT. Tickets to the 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game can be purchased at www.chipotlehomegrown.com. The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a free limited edition Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game scarf.
Retiring from professional soccer after guiding the LA Galaxy to a record-breaking fifth MLS Cup title in 2014, Donovan will return to the pitch – but on the other side of the white line. The most decorated player in American soccer history, Donovan finished his professional playing career as the MLS all-time leader in goals scored (144) and assists (136). In his 14 years in MLS, he won six MLS Cups, two Supporters’ Shields and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship, while also being named an MLS All-Star a record 14 consecutive times. In addition, the California native holds the top U.S. Men’s National Team records in goals (57) and assists (58) – the only American player to surpass the half-century mark in both categories.
“I am truly honored to coach the MLS Homegrown Team in this 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. It will be a great All-Star week for everyone involved and I'm looking forward to the opportunity,” said Donovan.
The Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game provides a yearly opportunity for MLS to showcase its top young talent and youth development system. MLS youth academies have produced some of league’s biggest stars including D.C. United’s Bill Hamid and LA Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes, both of whom are now U.S. Men’s National Team regulars. In that same company are Chicago Fire’s Harry Shipp, Columbus Crew’s Wil Trapp, New England Revolution’s Diego Fagundez and Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Russell Teibert – all players that have excelled for their hometown clubs and become critical first team players. MLS homegrown products have also become staples on the U.S. U-20 and U-23 national teams. This past June, seven Homegrown Players (Matt Miazga, NYRB; Erik Palmer-Brown, SKC; Kellyn Acosta, FCD; Marco Delgado, TOR; Jordan Allen, RSL; Bradford Jamieson IV, LA; Tommy Thompson, SJ) represented the U.S. at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, helping lead the Stars-and-Stripes to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Two of Colorado’s very own – Shane O’Neill and Dillon Serna – have become mainstays on the U-23 squad which begins qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics this fall. Overall, nearly 150 Homegrown Players have signed professional contracts with MLS clubs.
As the MLS Homegrown Team head coach, Donovan will select the MLS Homegrown Team gameday roster from the pool of Homegrown Players nominated by MLS clubs, taking into account player availability. The gameday roster will be announced the week leading up to the match.
In anticipation of the 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game, MLSsoccer,com will kick off a special “Road to the Homegrown Game” video series that will give fans a behind the scenes look at some of MLS’ top homegrown talent. The series will consist of six episodes chronicling the lives of select Homegrown Players as they work through the early years of their professional careers. The first episode can be viewed at www.mlssoccer.com/Homegrown.
Road to the Homegrown Game Series Schedule
- Episode 1: Thursday, July 9
- Episode 2: Wednesday, July 15
- Episode 3: Wednesday, July 22
- Episode 4: Friday, July 24
- Episode 5: Monday, July 27
- Episode 6: Finale TBD
2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game Schedule
Tuesday, July 28 – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – All Times Local
- 4:00 p.m. Gates Open (First 2,000 fans receive a free limited edition scarf)
- 5:00 p.m. MLS WORKS/Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Soccer Match
- 7:00 p.m. 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game (MLS Homegrown Team vs. Club América U-20s)
Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game History
- 2014: MLS Homegrown Team 0–0 Portland Timbers U-23s
