Photo Copyright Orlando Ramirez for USA TODAY Sports
Landon Donovan understands. He gets why certain narratives popped up the moment it was reported that San Diego Wave FC had hired him as interim head coach. If there are two things soccer fans revolt against when it comes to coaching hires, it is a big name swooping into a job, and a man getting a head job in the women’s game sans any practical experience. Donovan fits both of those criteria to a tee.
Donovan, who acknowledged his learning curve to get up to speed on the Wave’s competition was “steep,” addressed the media Monday from Panama where the club will open the inaugural Concacaf W Champions League on Tuesday against Santa Fe. He calmly laid out how he became the club’s surprise choice to navigate them through the rest of the season and offered assurances that he was doing it for the right reasons.
“I’ve been offered four MLS jobs in my life since I started coaching,” Donovan said, not specifying whether or not they were head coaching roles, but shutting down speculation the Wave job was a stepping stone to a position in MLS. “I love San Diego. I love working with good people. I told Jill (Ellis, Wave president), when I make a decision in my career it’s about people, passions I have for it, and the project.”
The roots of Landon Donovan coaching the San Diego Wave are tied to Ellis and the 2015 World Cup. Donovan attended that year’s final in Vancouver and became friendly with Ellis. The two have remained in touch and Donovan shot her a text around the time the Wave parted ways with Casey Stoney. Ellis asked him to let her know of any candidates that might be interested in the job.
“I didn’t respond to the message, but I kind of thought about it that evening and I talked to my wife. We love San Diego. I miss coaching. Maybe I should think about it. So I sent Jill a message back and said ‘If you’re interested, I would be willing to have the conversation and see where it goes.’ And that’s how it started. Now we’re here.”
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As of Monday morning, Donovan had led the Wave through exactly three training sessions. None of them included United States gold medalists Naomi Girma and Jaedyn Shaw or newly acquired French striker Delphine Cascarino. He had also begun the process of conducting individual conversations with several planned for later in the day Monday.
“Part of the reason we came two days early,” he said. “At home, I can’t keep them there til 6 p.m. at night doing one-on-ones.
One conversation Donovan already had ahead of Monday’s media call was with Alex Morgan. The popular striker was left off the Olympic roster and has struggled to find her footing in 2024. The situation is reminiscent of a decade ago when Donovan was famously one of the last cuts by U.S. men’s coach Jürgen Klinsmann head of the World Cup.
“I had a long chat with Alex,” he said. “I won’t get into tons of detail, but I went through the same thing that she went through this summer. And I have the ability to empathize. So we had a long talk about how do you make the last stretch of your career still positive. I was able to come back from that and win a championship that season with (LA Galaxy). That was the lasting impression of that season. Not getting cut.”
On the steep learning curve, Donovan said he has already watched a ton of tape on upcoming opponents, but that as when he coached USL side San Diego Loyal, the focus would be 90% on what his team does as opposed to reacting to the opponent.
Donovan added that he believes his job goes beyond just coaching soccer. “My job is to have a positive impact on their life every day. That doesn’t have to be on the field. I hope it is as well.”
Did the Royals find something?
Perhaps the most refreshing storyline to emerge from the Summer Cup was the Utah Royals. They sit last on the National Women’s Soccer League table and are an offensive nightmare with just eight goals across 16 matches. After losing their opening Cup match in Seattle they exploded for eight goals in victories over the Thorns and Tijuana and finished atop Group A. (Unfortunately, the absurd format meant only four of the five group winners advanced, and the Royals were the odd team out.)
Rookie Brecken Mozingo had a brace against Tijuana and Hannah Betfort scored in both wins. If both can keep that form when the competition improves again, that could help the Royals finish out the year on a positive note. The club was also busy bolstering the roster over the break by signing Mina Tanaka, Chloe Lacasse, and Zomoza.
After a dreadful opening to their NWSL revival, the Royals may have finally found something to build on.
How far can Pride take it?
The Pride did not win their Summer Cup group, but they did not lose a match either. That means Orlando’s all-competition unbeaten streak sits at 20. If the Pride win or draw Friday night in Houston they will set two records. The Washington Spirit played 20 straight matches (on the field, they forfeited two times during the run) encompassing the 2021 regular season and playoffs and 2022 regular season and Challenge Cup. The 2014 Seattle Reign opened the season with 16 straight games without defeat, a mark the Pride tied last month in Kansas City. The team’s 17-match regular season unbeaten streak is already an NWSL record.
With Barbra Banda tearing up the league and Marta looking to add to the trophy collection she amassed in WPS, the Pride enter the final third of the season as the team to beat. They also added Carson Pickett who will have to fight for minutes on a back line that has been outstanding of late.
Will the Dash ever score again?
When Rachel Daly scored against Portland on July 16, 2016, it ended a 567-minute streak during which the Houston Dash did not score a goal. The Spirit broke that league record two years later, and now the Dash are threatening their own club record. Heading to the break, the club has been shut out in five straight games with the current streak at 462 minutes. Using the calendar can add to the dramatics as they have not scored a regular season goal since May 14—nearly three months ago (though they did score in all three Summer Cup matches).
Adding to the fluid situation in Houston is that head coach Fran Alonso remains on a personal leave of absence. Ricky Clarke has led the side on an interim basis with Alonso away from the team. At last check, the club expects Alonso back at work. Even if that happens it is looking more and more like another reset heading into 2025.
