close
close

Landon Donovan gets new job as interim coach of the NWSL giants

Landon Donovan, a legendary figure in U.S. soccer, has begun a new journey as interim coach of the San Diego Wave of the National Women's Soccer League.

This is Donovan's first foray into the world of women's soccer coaching and represents a significant turning point in his illustrious career.

Donovan’s appointment as interim coach of the San Diego Wave comes at a crucial time for the team.

The Wave, currently 10th in the NWSL standings with 15 points from 16 games, need a turnaround. Despite having players like Jaedyn Shaw and Naomi Girma on the roster, the team has underperformed this season.

This led to the firing of coach Casey Stoney in June.

Stoney, a former England international, was instrumental in the Wave's early success, leading them to a third-place finish in their debut season and securing them the 2023 NWSL Shield.

But their abrupt departure at the start of the 2024 season was followed by a seven-game losing streak, leaving the team in search of stability.

Paul Buckle, who served as interim coach after Stoney's departure, struggled to turn the team's fortunes around. Under Buckle, the Wave failed to advance past the group stage of the inaugural NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.

To make matters worse, the team continued to slide down the league table. With Buckle returning to his personal commitments, the club have turned to Donovan, hoping his experience and leadership can guide the team through the remainder of the season.

Landon Donovan has completed his first training session.

Landon Donovan has completed his first training session.

What did Wave say about Donovan?

Landon Donovan is no stranger to the San Diego soccer scene. Before joining the Wave, he served as Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations for the San Diego Loyal and co-founded the USL Championship club.

Donovan was also the Loyal's first head coach, leading them to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2021-2023.

Despite his success with the Loyal, the club was dissolved after the 2023 season due to difficulties in finding a permanent stadium and expanding the MLS to San Diego.

During his tenure with the Loyal, the 42-year-old achieved a record of 39-17-29, demonstrating his ability to lead and develop a competitive team.

“We are thrilled to have Landon [Donovan] “Join the club and lead the team for the remainder of the season,” said Camille Ashton, Wave FC's sporting director and general manager. “Landon's knowledge, understanding and experience as a player and coach makes him a leader who can help us lead this club to where we want to be – into a playoff position and in contention for the championship.”

Donovan's close ties to San Diego and passion for promoting the sport in the city make him a natural fit for the Wave.

His player-first mentality and commitment to the community are in line with the club's values ​​and aspirations. Although he initially appears ready for the post, doubts may arise about his expertise in women's sport.

What can Donovan bring to Wave?

Donovan finds himself in a difficult situation with the San Diego Waves. The team once had championship ambitions.

Now they must fight to climb out of the bottom of the NWSL standings. With just a few games left in the regular season and the CONCACAF W Champions Cup just around the corner, Donovan has little time to prove himself.

Despite the obstacles, Donovan is optimistic about the opportunity. “Landon's passion for this city and advancing the game, as well as his player-first mentality, make him a natural fit for this club,” Ashton emphasized.

The Wave's upcoming game against Angel City on August 24 will be Donovan's first test as head coach and will provide insight into how he plans to lead the team going forward.

The former striker's connection to the San Diego soccer community and his success with the Loyal will be instrumental in his new role. However, the transition from men's to women's soccer is not without its challenges and Donovan will have to quickly adapt to the nuances of the NWSL.

Photo credit: IMAGO / Agencia-MexSport

Load…

You may also like...