Janice R. Andrews
The U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) legend Landon Donovan will take over as temporary head coach for the balance of the 2024 season, the San Diego Wave FC announced on Friday. This is a surprise decision. Donovan’s hiring comes after Casey Stoney, the team’s previous head coach, was abruptly fired in June.
On August 16, 2024, the team verified the news on social media, which had been first reported by San Diego Futbol. Donovan joins the Wave as they attempt to turn around their season following a difficult seven-game losing skid. With a 3-7-6 record as of right now, the squad is ranked 10th in the NWSL.
Stoney was unceremoniously fired in June of June, after having been a part of the Wave from their first season and leading them to the 2023 NWSL Shield. She had recently signed a new three-year contract six months prior, so her departure caused some curiosity. Paul Buckle, the assistant coach, took over as head coach in an acting capacity after she left, but Donovan will now take over.
Despite having 57 goals and 157 caps for the USMNT throughout his playing career, Donovan has little coaching expertise. San Diego Loyal SC, a USL team that played from 2020 until its dissolution in 2023, was co-founded and led by him. Nevertheless, the Wave should be motivated by Donovan’s size and skill level as they go during the second part of the campaign.
Prodigious talents grace the roster of the San Diego Wave, including recent gold medal winners Jaedyn Shaw, Naomi Girma, and Alex Morgan of the U.S. women’s national team. Leading the Wave in their next CONCACAF W Champions Cup encounter against Santa Fe FC on Tuesday in Panama will be Donovan’s first test.
The Wave are hoping that Donovan can give the team fresh vitality and lead them to a triumphant campaign finale.
