Klinsmann thinks Donovan's return is 'pretty cool'

U.S. men's national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann has an interesting relationship with the country's soccer icon Landon Donovan, having come at odds with the LA Galaxy man by leaving him off of the team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

But after reconciling their differences in 2015, Klinsmann is now full of nothing but praise for Donovan, who recently returned to MLS and rejoined the Galaxy after retiring at the end of the 2014 season.

"I think it's pretty cool that Landon is back on the field," Klinsmann said Monday during a Facebook Q&A, as quoted by Sports Illustrated.

"He just wants to give it another shot. So obviously he's been gone for quite a while, coming back is not going to be easy for him, but with the experience of Bruce Arena at the Galaxy, I'm sure that they're going to time him the right way and build him the right way towards the playoffs."

Donovan returned to action on Sunday in a 4-2 win over Orlando City, replacing Raul Mendiola with less than 10 minutes remaining in the match, and Klinsmann says seeing the 34-year-old back on the field serves as an example of his advice to young professionals.

"There's no better thing in life than kicking the ball around, then playing," Klinsmann said.

"Every time a player kind of comes to me and asks, 'When is the right moment to stop? What should I do?' I always tell them 'Go as long as you can, because these days when you played the game are not coming back anymore, so as long as your body is going strong, keep playing.'"