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3 months ago
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Photo Copyright Orlando Ramirez for USA TODAY Sports
U.S. men’s national team legend Landon Donovan has been named interim coach of the San Diego Wave, the club announced on Friday.
The news was first reported by San Diego Futbol on Thursday.
The news comes after the Wave unexpectedly fired coach Casey Stoney in June. She had recently signed a three-year contract extension on the heels of bringing the club its first National Women’s Soccer League Shield in 2023.
Since then, Paul Buckle – who was an assistant coach for the club in 2022 – has served as interim coach.
Donovan has limited managerial experience, having led the San Diego Loyal – which he co-founded alongside Warren Smith – from 2020 until 2022. He then moved to a role as executive vice president of soccer operations ahead of the 2023 season. He does hold a USSF A-Senior license.
“First off, we want to thank Paul for his professionalism and honoring his commitment to see us through this summer window,” San Diego Wave FC sporting director and general manager Camille Ashton said in a statement.
“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.”
As a player, Donovan finished a 15-year USMNT career as the team’s joint-leading scorer, a title he still holds. He also holds the USMNT record for assists, and his 157 appearances are the second-most in USMNT history. A member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, he also won six MLS Cups, earning multiple MVP awards.
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Back in June, Wave president Jill Ellis called Stoney’s firing an “inflection point” for the club, which had been in the midst of a seven-game winless streak.
“We’re an ambitious club,” Ellis told reporters. “We want to compete domestically and internationally. Right now, to qualify for the [Concacaf] Champions League, there’s three criteria: win the league, finish second in the league, or win the championship. Where we sit at the moment, we are limiting our opportunities.”
In the wake of Stoney’s firing, the club was hit with multiple allegations that the club created a hostile working environment. Ellis has since filed a defamation suit against Brittany Alvarado, alleging that she made “false and defamatory statements” about the president in her social media posts.
Donovan’s first game as interim head coach could come as soon as Tuesday. San Diego will travel to Panama to face off against Santa Fe in its first match of the Concacaf W Champions Cup. They’ll then play Angel City FC on August 24.
The club currently sits in 10th place in the NWSL standings, having won just three out of 16 games this season.
