Landon Donovan is back in action, but this time in the NWSL.
The San Diego Wave named Donovan their interim head coach for the remainder of the 2024 season. Donovan takes over for former interim head coach Paul Buckle.
Donovan, a San Diego local, was formerly the Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations for the San Diego Loyal, following three years as the first-ever head coach for the USL club. He led the Loyal to three-straight playoff appearances during his time as head coach (2021-23).
Donovan registered a 39-17-29 record as Loyal head coach.
“First off, we want to thank Paul for his professionalism and honoring his commitment to see us through this summer window,” said San Diego Wave FC Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton.
“We are thrilled to have Landon join the club and lead the team for the remainder of the season, including the first-ever Concacaf W Champions Cup. Landon’s level of knowledge, understanding, and experience as both a player and a coach, provides us with a leader that can help guide this club to where we want to be – in a playoff position and competing for a Championship. His passion for this city and growing the game, along with having a player-first mentality, make him a natural fit for this club.”
A 20-year professional playing career, Donovan won six MLS Cups, one U.S. Open Cup, and two MLS Supporters’ Shields. He was named to the MLS Best XI on six occasions, won the league MVP Award once, and won the Golden Boot once.
He is the only American player in U.S. men’s national team history to register 50 goals and 50 assists. Donovan’s 157 USMNT caps are second-most all-time in program history.
The Wave are currently 10th in the NWSL standings with 15 points earned through 16 matches. They begin group stage play in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup on Tuesday against Colombian side Santa Fe.
As a native San Diegan, I’m glad to see Donovan involved again with soccer in the city. However, I was hoping that he might be hired for an important slot in the new MLS team that will begin play in 2025. That team just announced their sporting director (GM), who just married Lindsay Horan. But they haven’t selected a coach yet and only have 5 players so far under contract for their inaugural season. I thought Donovan would be the perfect manager of the MLS team, but at least he’s staying local with the Wave. BTW, for those who don’t know, Donovan was raised in Redlands, about 100 miles north of San Diego and 40 or 50 miles east of LA. He moved to San Diego because his wife is from here.
Wasn’t he part of the other group trying for a franchise. Perhaps either he’s not interested in working with them or they him. Or maybe he sees it as a way to audition. I think it’s pretty normal to only have a few players at this stage since they aren’t playing. I do think St. Louis ran an MLS Next Pro side the year before their MLS season though. I don’t think Charlotte even had a reserve team until their second season so I guess there’s no agreed upon best strategy. FCC tried to promote from their USL side and it was pretty bad.
He was part of the other group. Thanks for reminding me, I forgot that. Regardless of how they feel, if the money is right, he probably would take a job with the MLS team and he would give the team instant credibility in San Diego. As for the team, they need to add about 20 players by the end of February or so, just to be able to have scrimmages.
I’m assuming there will be an expansion draft plus the college draft that will fill a lot of those spots.