There were discussions about Landon Donovan taking over San Diego Wave FC as interim coach when the team plays Angel City on Friday at Snapdragon Stadium.
Why fly nearly 3,000 miles to Panama for a Concacaf W Champions Cup game Tuesday that does not count in the NWSL standings?
“We talked about it,” Donovan told the Union-Tribune. “Every game matters, so let’s go.”
Donovan is guiding the faltering Wave as he would a one-on-one opportunity against a goalkeeper when he played.
One speed. No hesitation. Attack, then attack some more.
The Wave tumbled from being the best in the NWSL, winning the NWSL Shield a season ago, to one of the most toothless offensive groups in the 14-team league.
“I told them, ‘You’re eight months removed from being the best team in the league,’ ” Donovan said. “It’s not like they’ve been terrible for six years. My job is to get that back.”
Donovan will travel to the far reaches of Central America for a game against Santa Fe FC to stomp the gas pedal on the process.
“I was expecting to never go to Panama again,” Donovan said with a laugh, after putting together arguably the most decorated playing career in U.S. men’s soccer history. “It’s a beautiful place, but I thought I was done with soccer trips there.”
And that interim tag?
“I talked to (president) Jill (Ellis) for a long time,” Donovan said. “My goal is to help them advance in the women’s Champions Cup, make the playoffs and go from there.
“I could take the job full-time and be fired in two months or I could be here 20 years. I could turn around and say, ‘This is the best job I’ve ever had, so why would I leave?’ I don’t know how they’ll feel about it (by the end of the year).
“I’m open to anything.”
The Wave’s competitive slide was compounded by the firing of coach Casey Stoney and allegations of a toxic work environment under Ellis by former employees.
You would understand if that made Donovan think twice about the job.
He didn’t.
“I’ve known Jill a long time,” he said. “She’s full of integrity. She’s honest. She’s kind. She’s compassionate. She cares about people. Zero concerns. I’m really happy to be here.”
Why take all of this on?
“I miss coaching,” said Donovan, who had a successful chapter leading the San Diego Loyal SC. “It’s in San Diego. I’ve followed the team since its inception. They train 10 minutes from my home. I have a young daughter. We’ve both been inspired watching them.
“It checked all the boxes.”
Donovan already has sat down with Wave star Alex Morgan, the face of U.S. women’s soccer for the last decade and a half. The team is waiting for the return of Olympic gold medalists Naomi Girma and Jaedyn Shaw and Canadian national goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
Though Donovan said details of that conversation with Morgan will remain private, the gist of it seems clear. The way he played, the way he has coached, is a comfy-jeans fit for the type of scorer Morgan has been.
“It was a great meeting,” Donovan said. “I really want Alex to be the best version of Alex. All those categories that we were best in (with the Loyal), those are her strengths.
“She’s as good a goal scorer as this country has ever seen. She’s dynamic. She’s in great shape.”
Scoring, something the Wave recently lacked, is hard-wired into Donovan. He’s tied for the most goals scored for the U.S. men’s national team. No other American has piled up more than 50 goals and 50 assists.
The 14-time MLS All-Star and six-time champion steered the Loyal to the second-most goals in the 24-team USL Championship league in its final season (2023).
“The way I played and the way I coach is the only way I know how to do things,” he said. “It would be foolish to try and be anything else as a coach.”
Donovan knows wounds remain fresh with the Wave.
“It’s been a difficult year for them,” he said. “They were craving structure, guidance, leadership because they’ve had a tumultuous couple of months. This will take time. With the Loyal, it was a process. This will be a process, too.”
On one hand, it appears Donovan faces a heavy lift. On the other, the core that dominated a season ago offers proven tools for the job.
Panama, and more, awaits.
Concacaf W Champions Cup
Who: San Diego Wave FC vs. Santa Fe FC of Panama
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Estadio Rommel Fernandez, Panama City, Panama
TV: CBS Sports Network
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