Former U.S. international Landon Donovan has told For The Win he has repaired his relationship with the U.S. Soccer Federation following an emotional end to his playing career.
Donovan, 33, retired last year as the USMNT's most-capped player and highest scorer, netting 57 goals in 157 appearances.
The former striker saw his international career come to a disappointing end, playing his final USMNT game in October having missed out on Jurgen Klinsmann's squad for the 2014 World Cup last summer.
However, Donovan says the relationship is now "very good" after some "bitter moments," and says his focus is on helping to improve the game in America.
Donovan said that the feud is now "water under the bridge", adding: "I think it's been a process because obviously there was a difficult end to my playing career, but the reality is that I'm a product of U.S. soccer so I've benefited greatly from all of this.
"It's a good time for me after certainly a difficult time last year, but it's a good time for me to continue to help the game grow and this is certainly a piece of that.
"I understand why things happen and why things are the way they are, and since removing myself I've been able to see why things happen, and see things don't always go your way. But now I have this opportunity I've never had where I have time to give and to help.
"Of course there were some bitter moments, but as a whole my relationship with soccer in this country has been incredible. [I think] the goal of all of this [is] for people to stay connected to this game that we love, and that's been a big plus for me."
Asked about his future, Donovan said: "I don't know exactly what the next steps are. I know I thoroughly enjoy ... I hesitate to use the word ambassador -- I'm a living example of the growth of U.S. soccer, I've lived it every step of the way.
"Whether it's this opportunity, coaching kids, doing camps or travelling to meet fans ... I have all this time to go out and connect with people that I never had the chance to connect with. It's different when you're not a player any more; as a player in some ways you dread that stuff because it takes your time away, but now I have time.
"It's been a really nice time for me to step away and see the game in a different way."
The 33-year-old says he is also pursuing options in further education, saying: "I had to start at community college and I started online. I took political science, which I thought I was going to hate and subsequently absolutely loved.
"It's been fun to learn about things I don't know anything about. I wish I had the chance to be in a classroom but for now this is the compromise I make. I was at the Masters on Saturday night taking my masters for poly-sci!"