Landon Donovan ready to make history in possible final game

CARSON, Calif. -- If Saturday really is Landon Donovan's final game with the LA Galaxy, he's got a chance to make history.

"We're really excited about tomorrow," Donovan said at a press conference Friday. "Not many teams have a chance to do what we have a chance to do and we want to make the most of the opportunity."

The opportunity Donovan spoke about is the chance to become the third team in MLS history to win back-to-back championships. If the Galaxy defeat Houston, they will also tie D.C. United for the most MLS Cup titles in league history with four.

"We're fortunate on this team to have players that have experience not only in a final like this but experiences in big games around the world so for us we're prepared for it," Donovan said.

In what will be David Beckham's last game in Major League Soccer, Donovan has made comments of his own recently suggesting he might be ready to leave the Galaxy -- or soccer -- for good.

Donovan refused to answer questions about his future on Friday, but Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark, a former international teammate of Donovan, told reporters that Donovan's decision is his own business.

"At the end of the day, soccer is one aspect of our lives," Clark said. "Whatever he wants to do in life, man, that's up to him. I have nothing against him if he does choose to do whatever he does. It's all good.

"You gotta do what your heart wants to do."

In addition to the Galaxy's opportunity to tie D.C. United for most MLS Cups ever, Donovan has a chance to win his fifth MLS Cup, which would tie him for the most titles ever won by an individual player.

"I was very fortunate early on to be a part of some really good teams and I think the years from '06 through '09 really taught me to appreciate how hard it is to win and get to this point," Donovan said. "I did probably take it for granted early on."

The lean early years of Beckham's time in MLS have given way to a new era of Galaxy prosperity, and Donovan hailed the English midfielder's influence during his time in Los Angeles.

"I think there's no doubt that David has been an overwhelming success both on the field and off the field and also within our locker room and in our organization," Donovan said. "What he's meant to this team has been fantastic and we're very grateful for it."

If it is Donovan and Beckham's MLS swansong, they both have a golden opportunity to go out on quite the high note.

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