What’s Next for Landon Donovan after Playing Career?

Aug 27, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; D.C. Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan (10) raises his arms after scoring on a penalty kick in the second half of the game against D.C. United at StubHub Center. Galaxy won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

When 2014 ends, Landon Donovan’s playing career will come to an end. His final USMNT call-up will be October 10th against Ecuador and he will retire from the LA Galaxy after the 2014 MLS Season.

Yes, he retired temporarily from soccer in 2013 and came out of hiatus to help the US Men’s National Team in the 2013 Gold Cup. In 2014, he wasn’t called up the 23-man roster for the World Cup. On the club level, he seems to be hitting his stride lately helping the LA Galaxy stay in the mix for the Supporters Shield and playoff races.

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So after 2014 what will Donovan do?

Well, the answer is rather simple it seems. His future is soccer is on television. Soccer fans saw this during USMNT’s World Cup matches. Donovan will become the next Alexi Lalas and Taylor Twellman. He’ll use his experience as a player and bring that to the sports broadcast. His short time on ESPN’s World Cup programming showed that Donovan brought a worthwhile experience to the common soccer fan tuning in.

One network to sign him would be Fox Sports. In 2015, they will air MLS games weekly as part of the new television deal and have the rights to the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Additionally, they also will air the 2015 Gold Cup and the 2018 World Cup. Fox Sports is looking to bring a successful product to the table like ESPN did with their 2014 World Cup Coverage.

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With an onslaught of coverage and high expectations for Fox Sports, they would be wise to try to coax Donovan to sign with their network. If they want to truly to raise the quality of their broadcasts and the ratings, Donovan is their answer. His knowledge of the sport as a player should carry over into the television side. Furthermore, bringing in a big name like Donovan will raise ratings and viewership numbers just because he’s apart of the broadcast. There’s a reason why ESPN signed Tim Tebow to be an analyst on the newly launched SEC Network.

Speaking of ESPN. They are lurking too and could bring in Donovan even though they don’t have broadcasting rights for the next two World Cups. At the same time, they will still have rights to certain MLS games weekly and select USMNT and USWNT friendlies. In addition, they also carry Mexico National Team games. While Donovan’s strength may not be covering the Mexican team, he can research and become an expert for the game.

ESPN may have an advantage over FOX Sports in bringing in Donovan’s services. He was a part of their World Cup coverage in 2014 and already has an established relationship their.

In addition to ESPN and FOX Sports, NBC Sports is always an option as well. They are “all-in” on their EPL Coverage with the likes of Ian Darke and USMNT goalkeeper legend Tim Howard for select high-caliber games. Donovan could become a mainstay of their future EPL coverage and call games along side another USMNT legend. It’s only a matter of time before Howard steps away from playing soccer for good, but that is yet to be known when that will be.

At this moment it is unknown what Donovan’s next move will be when he retires. It appears though that television could be his next step. He’d make considerable amount of money and be able to talk about a game that he’s put so much blood, sweat, and tears into. Donovan helped transform the landscape of soccer in the United States on the field for club and country; he may change the landscape further from the television booth down the road.

For now, soccer fans will enjoy and experience his final moments in a USMNT and Galaxy jersey.