The NWSL’s San Diego Wave announced they have tapped USMNT legend and current broadcaster Landon Donovan to take over interim head-coaching duties for the remainder of the 2024 season on Friday.
According to the team, previous head coach Paul Buckle decided to leave for “personal commitments.”
However, the hire drew confusion from some pundits like ESPN’s Herculez Gomez who thought it “screams PR stunt.”
Donovan’s only managerial experience comes from a failed two-year stint as founder and head coach of the San Diego Loyal, a USL Championship squad that was forced to shut down in 2023.
Perhaps this supposedly temporary gig could be the best proving ground, or perhaps it is, in fact, a PR stunt.
San Diego enters the Donovan era in 10th place having lost three of its last five matches and winless since May 8 — but only three points out from a playoff spot.
If the USMNT’s joint all-time leading scorer can impart whatever wisdom he has to already-accomplished players like Alex Morgan and Naomi Girma, finding a way into the league playoffs, then perhaps the “stunt” can be written off as a partial success.
In the end, however, San Diego will most likely need to find a more qualified permanent solution at manager.
