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San Diego Wave Interim coach Landon Donovan knows he needs to learn “hard” when it comes to training NWSL He said that players must take utmost care to complete the process quickly and at the workplace itself.
The American football legend, who will be the first to coach a professional women’s team, Last Friday, he was announced as Wave’s new interimLess than a week after his appointment, Donovan will make his debut on Tuesday in a CONCACAF W Champions Cup match against Santa Fe FC in Panama City, Panama.
“It’s definitely tough,” Donovan said during his introductory press conference on Monday. “I have a baseline, I know a lot of the players here (in San Diego) from watching them the last couple of seasons, but the rest of the league … I have to rely on guys, and I’m getting up to speed quickly.
“So I’ve watched a lot of film the last two weeks trying to understand the league better.”
The 42-year-old will look to revive the NWSL Shield holders who are currently out of a playoff position. After the halfway point of the regular season, the Wave have a record of 3W-6D-7L.
“There will be a lot of bumps in the road,” Donovan said. “You’re not going to see a team tomorrow that’s perfect by any means, but there will be progress. I think that will be clearly visible. And then ultimately, I think I don’t want to live in fear and we just want to be brave and try to do things the way I know how.”
During Monday’s press conference, Donovan also dismissed the notion that he views this job as a stepping stone.
“I’ve been offered the MLS job four times since I started coaching and I’ve turned them all down, and there are a few reasons for that,” Donovan said. “One of the reasons is, in no particular order, I love San Diego. I love working with good people. I told (club president) Jill (Ellis) that when I make any decision in my career, it’s about the people, the passion and the project.
“I met (sporting director and general manager) Cami (Ashton) and we connected right away. I’ve known Alex (Morgan) for a long time, got to know these ladies quickly, they’re incredible people.
“People questioned my motivation when I didn’t play my whole career in Europe, and I was happy playing in L.A. and helping move MLS forward around good people and having a passion for a project I believed in, and being close to my family. So I’m different in that way, I’ve always been different. I don’t worry about the next job or the next thing or what it means, or the stepping stones.”
If this job is a step up in any way, it could be a permanent role with the job he just held, with Donovan indicating there is a possibility he could remain with the Wave in the future.
“The door is open, but what we agreed to is until the end of the season and we’ll move forward from there,” said the MLS Cup champion with LA Galaxy. “We (Donovan and Ellis) both said, ‘Look, if it goes well, let’s have a conversation. If it doesn’t, one side doesn’t want it or the other, no problem.’ There’s no bitterness, and we’ll move forward.”
After Tuesday’s match in Panama, the Wave will return to the NWSL with a home match Angel City F.C. On 24th August.
Donovan’s only coaching experience at the professional level was with the now-defunct San Diego Loyal in the USL Championship from 2020 to 22. Internationally, he is the only American to record over 50 goals and assists for the United States.
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