_045.jpg) Donovan in 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Landon Timothy Donovan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1982-03-04)March 4, 1982 (age 43) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ontario, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Winger,forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | IMG Academy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Bayer Leverkusen II | 28 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2005 | Bayer Leverkusen | 7 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2004 | →San Jose Earthquakes (loan) | 87 | (32) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2014 | LA Galaxy | 247 | (112) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | →Bayern Munich (loan) | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | →Everton (loan) | 10 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | →Everton (loan) | 7 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | LA Galaxy | 6 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | León | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | San Diego Sockers (indoor) | 10 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 416 | (161) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | United States U17 | 41 | (35) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | United States U20 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2004 | United States U23 | 15 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2014 | United States | 157 | (57) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | United States (indoor) | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | San Diego Loyal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | San Diego Wave (interim) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Landon Timothy Donovan (born March 4, 1982) is an American former professionalsoccer player and coach who was most recently the interim head coach ofSan Diego Wave FC of theNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Often considered the greatest U.S. men's player of all time, Donovan was theall-time top assist provider in international football (58) until 2023[2] and is tied withClint Dempsey for the most international goals scored by a male U.S. player (57).[3][4][5][6] Donovan won a record sixMLS Cups and is the league's all-time assists leader with 136.[7] TheMajor League Soccer MVP Award has been renamed theLandon Donovan MVP Award in his honor.[8][9]
An early soccer product ofIMG Academy, Donovan signed forBayer Leverkusen in 1999. In 2005, after six years with Leverkusen, the majority of which were spent onloan with theSan Jose Earthquakes of MLS, Donovan moved back to the United States permanently to sign with theLos Angeles Galaxy. He later returned to Germany for a loan with giantsBayern Munich, and twice went on short loans toPremier League clubEverton in 2010 and 2012. He retired as a player in 2014, but made a brief comeback with LA Galaxy late in the 2016 season and then in 2018 to play for Mexican clubLeón. He further played one season with theSan Diego Sockers of theMajor Arena Soccer League.
Donovan made his senior debut for theUnited States men's national team in 2000. He is theall-time leader in assists, tied withClint Dempsey as the all-time leader in scoring, and is the second-most-capped player of his country.[10][11] Donovan is the only American player to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark.[12] He is tied withChristian Pulisic for the record of fourU.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year awards (the first man to win in consecutive years),[13] as well as the only seven-time winner of thePlayer of the Year award.[14] Donovan starred in the U.S. team that reached the quarter-finals of the2002 FIFA World Cup where he received theBest Young Player Award. His three goals in the2010 World Cup made him the highest-scoring male American player in World Cup history.
Landon Timothy Donovan[15] was born (along with twin sister Tristan) on March 4, 1982, inOntario, California, to Donna Kenney-Cash, an Americanspecial education teacher, and Tim Donovan, a semi-professionalice hockey player originally from Canada. Donovan's parents are both of Irish descent, and he holds Canadian citizenship by way of his father.[16] His mother raised Landon and his siblings inRedlands, California, and he attendedRedlands East Valley High School when not engaged in soccer activities elsewhere.[17]
Donovan first played soccer with his older brother and when Donovan was six, his mother allowed him to join an organized league, where he scored seven goals in his first match.[16] Donovan was a member of Cal Heat – a club based in nearbyRancho Cucamonga, California. In 1997, he was accepted into U.S. Youth Soccer's Olympic Development Program.[18] In 1999 Donovan attended theIMG Academy inBradenton, Florida, with other members of the U-17 national team as part ofU.S. Soccer's youth development program.[19][20] Donovan was a member of the inaugural class of theU.S. Soccer youth residency program inBradenton, Florida. He was named Player of the Tournament for his role in theUnited States under-17 squad that finished fourth in the1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship before signing with German clubBayer Leverkusen later that year.
Later in 1999, Donovan signed a six-year contract for GermanBundesliga clubBayer Leverkusen, whose sporting director Michael Reschke spotted him at a youth tournament in Europe.[21] Despite becoming a regular starter for the club's reserve team upon arrival, Donovan had trouble adapting to life overseas and was allowed extended training periods with United States youth national teams.[22] He played in a German Cup match for the reserve team.[23] Unhappy with his situation with Leverkusen, Donovan was loaned to theSan Jose Earthquakes ofMajor League Soccer (MLS) for the 2001 season. In MLS, Donovan had immediate success, leading the Earthquakes to MLS Cup championships in 2001 and 2003 and becoming one of the only recognizable faces of soccer in the United States.[24] In four years in the league, he scored 32 goals[25] and 29 assists in league play, and ten goals and six assists in the playoffs.[25] Two of those goals were in the 2003 MLS Cup, a 4–2 Earthquakes triumph overChicago Fire SC. Donovan earned Man of the Match for his actions. He was namedU.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2003.[26]
In 2004, Donovan became the first man to be named the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year three years in a row[26] before returning to the Bayer Leverkusen first team in January 2005. After playing seven matches with Leverkusen in the2004–05 season,[27] only two of which were starts, Donovan requested to leave the club. Despite a late offer from EnglishPremier League clubPortsmouth, Donovan expressed a desire to return to the United States. Upon his re-entry to MLS, San Jose was denied the chance to re-sign Donovan because Earthquakes general managerAlexi Lalas had traded away his rights.LA Galaxy, his hometown team, were able to trade leading scorerCarlos Ruiz toFC Dallas to get on top of theMLS allocation order as Donovan prepared to leave Germany.[28]
Donovan signed a multi-year contract with LA Galaxy, making him the highest-paid American player in the league. In his first season at the club, Donovan scored 12 league goals[29] with 10 assists and added four goals and an assist in the playoffs as LA Galaxy won the MLS Cup (his third MLS championship to date). He was named to theMLS All-Time Best XI after the season.[30] In his second season with LA Galaxy, Donovan scored 12 league goals and eight assists. He also scored three goals in theOpen Cup. Despite this, Donovan and LA Galaxy failed to make the playoffs and lost in the Open Cup to Chicago Fire. Donovan's playoff goals make him MLS' second all-time leading scorer in the playoffs with 14, behind Carlos Ruiz's 15.[31]
Donovan had a mixed year with LA Galaxy in 2007. Upon the signing and arrival ofDavid Beckham, Donovan relinquished his captaincy to the English superstar. In the 2007SuperLiga tournament, Donovan was the top scorer. He scored a goal in every match except for the final. He scored six goals in five matches.[32] At this point in his career, Donovan had 84 all-time regular season goals putting him in seventh place on the league'sall-time scoring list. Although the2008 season was a disappointment for LA Galaxy, it was a banner year for Donovan as he scored 20 goals and nine assists in 25 matches, forming a strong offensive partnership with David Beckham andEdson Buddle.[31]
After his former national team managerBruce Arena was named LA Galaxy head coach and Beckham joinedMilan on loan in early 2009, Donovan once again was given the club captaincy on a permanent basis. In July 2009, Donovan received praise and criticism for his critical comments about Beckham inSports Illustrated journalistGrant Wahl's bookThe Beckham Experiment, calling Beckham a poor captain and teammate. He later apologized to Beckham for discussing his concerns to a reporter rather than to him directly.[33] The two reconciled upon Beckham's mid-season return to Los Angeles and Donovan enjoyed an outstanding 2009 campaign, winning the league'sMost Valuable Player andMLS Goal of The Year 2009 award and leading LA Galaxy toMLS Cup 2009, which they lost 5–4 on penalties toReal Salt Lake after a 1–1 draw, Donovan missing his attempt in the shootout. Following the season, Donovan agreed to a four-year extension to his contract with LA Galaxy, with clauses that allowed him to seek loans during the MLS offseason. On August 1, 2010, Donovan scored the 100th goal of his MLS career. On September 18, 2010, he became the all-time leading scorer for LA Galaxy.[34]
LA Galaxy had another successful campaign in 2010 winning theSupporters' Shield for the first time since 2003. In that campaign, Donovan scored seven goals and a team-high 16 assists. In theplayoffs, LA Galaxy would ultimately succumb to Dallas in the semi-finals. In 2011, LA Galaxy again won the MLS Supporter's Shield. In theMLS Cup 2011, Donovan scored the title-clinching goal in the 72nd minute over theHouston Dynamo, securing his fourth MLS Cup title.[35]Donovan was named the MLS Cup MVP.
In October 2012, Donovan expressed his desire to take a break from his professional soccer career, citing physical and mental exhaustion as the main reasons.[36] In LA Galaxy's next match, theMLS Cup 2012, a rematch with Houston, Donovan converted a penalty kick in the 65th minute of play to give LA a 2–1 lead. The goal was Donovan's fifth in MLS Cup Finals. LA Galaxy went on to win their second straight MLS Cup, 3–1.
Donovan returned to training with LA Galaxy on March 25, 2013, and made his season debut five days later againstToronto, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute. However, upon his return, it was announced he would be forced to relinquish the captaincy toRobbie Keane for the 2013 season. He scored two goals againstChivas USA, tying him withJeff Cunningham together as the top MLS goalscorer with 134 goals. On May 25, 2014, Donovan scored twice against thePhiladelphia Union to break Cunningham's record of 134, making Donovan MLS's All-Time leading goalscorer with 136 goals.[37] On August 6, 2014, he scored the winning goal at the2014 MLS All-Star Game, putting the ball pastBayern Munich goalkeeperManuel Neuer at the 70th minute, he was subsequently substituted forSporting Kansas City strikerDom Dwyer and gave the captain's armband to Canadian internationalWill Johnson. On August 7, 2014, Donovan announced he would be retiring at the end of the 2014 Major League Soccer season; the season ended with LA Galaxy winningMLS Cup 2014 as well their fourth MLS Cup of the Donovan era on December 7, 2014.
In November 2008, Donovan trained with Bayern Munich,[38] before joining the German club on loan until the start of the 2009 MLS season in mid-March.[39] During his stay with Bayern, Donovan had appearances in fivefriendly matches, in which he scored four goals,[40] six league matches and oneDFB-Pokal match.[41] At the end of the loan period, Bayern declined to extend his loan.[42]
After the 2009 MLS season had finished, Donovan joined English Premier League sideEverton on loan in January 2010, though there was strong suggestions he could join his American teammates atFulham.[43][44] During this period, he played in 13 matches in all competitions, scored two goals and was named the club's Player of the Month for January.[45] Everton were keen on extending his loan deal, but LA Galaxy refused,[46] and Donovan returned to the U.S. in time for the start of the 2010 MLS season.[47]
An agreement was reached in December 2011 for Donovan to spend another two months at Everton beginning in January 2012.[48] He made his returning debut on January 4, 2012, againstBolton Wanderers, a 2–1 defeat. In his third match on loan, he assisted Everton's only goal in a 1–1 draw againstAston Villa on January 14. On January 27, he assisted in both goals in a 2–1 win over Fulham in theFA Cup fourth round proper. On January 31, he assisted inDarron Gibson's winning goal overManchester City. Donovan took his tally of assists to seven when he assistedDenis Stracqualursi's goal in a 2–0 victory overChelsea on February 11.
On September 8, 2016, Donovan announced his return from retirement and officially signed with LA Galaxy for the remainder of the 2016 season (six regular season games and any consecutive play-off matches).[49]
Donovan explained that the injuries sustained by the club late in the season led to his decision to return:
Two weeks ago, I was working as an analyst on the LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps match and during that game, LA Galaxy suffered injuries to three players: Jelle Van Damme, Steven Gerrard and Gyasi Zardes. Over the next few days, Nigel De Jong was transferred to Galatasaray and news broke that Gyasi would be out for the rest of the season.
Since my retirement, I have remained in close contact with many of the staff and players on LA Galaxy. I spoke with some of them that week and they jokingly asked if I was ready to make a return to the field to help fill some of the void left by the injuries and departures.
I reminded them that I haven't played a meaningful soccer game in almost two years and I certainly couldn't fill the holes left by those players. Over the ensuing days, I began to think about their inquiries and it struck me that perhaps this is something I should consider. I care so deeply about the Galaxy organization, and I believe I could help in a small way to aid the team in its quest for a sixth MLS championship.[50][51]
On September 11, 2016, Donovan entered the match againstOrlando City as a substitute on the 83rd minute.[52] As his traditional number 10 was worn byGiovani dos Santos, Donovan selected number 26, which he wore at Bayer Leverkusen when he began his career in 1999.[50][53]
Donovan scored a goal in his second match after returning to LA Galaxy. On September 18, 2016, he came on as a substitute in the 74th minute in a match against Sporting Kansas City and scored two minutes later to tie the game 2–2.[54]
Altogether, Donovan played in all six remaining matches of the 2016 regular season, as well as in all three play-off matches. He started in five of them and scored one goal. At the end of the play-off run, Donovan retired for the second time.[55]
On January 12, 2018, Donovan signed withLiga MX teamLeón, having returned from retirement for a second time.[56] He made his Liga MX debut on February 10, 2018, coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute of León's 2–1 victory overClub Puebla.[57] He scored his first goal for the club on March 24, 2018, in a friendly against his former team, theSan Jose Earthquakes[58] On June 17, 2018, Club León announced they had decided to terminate Donovan's contract early.[59]
On January 24, 2019, Donovan signed with theSan Diego Sockers in theMajor Arena Soccer League.[60] He provided an assist in a 6–4 win over theTacoma Stars during his MASL debut on February 15 in front of a record crowd inPechanga Arena San Diego.[61][62] He scored his first two goals for the Sockers in the next game for a 13–2 win overTurlock Express, opening the scoring after just 12 seconds.[63] Donovan was named to MASL's Week 14 Team of the Week[64] and also named him as a 2018–19 All-MASL Top Newcomer.[65]
Donovan was a member of the inaugural class atU.S. Soccer's full-time residency program for theunder-17 national team at theIMG Academy inBradenton, Florida. In his two years playing for the U-17 team, he scored 35 goals in 41 games and won the Golden Ball at the1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship as the tournament's best player.[66] He also represented the United States at the1999 Pan American Games. In 2000, he moved up to both theUnited States U-23 men's national soccer team as well as the senior team. Despite this he played for theUnited States U-20 men's national soccer team in 2001. On March 20, 2001, he was involved in a collision with Marvin Lee, the captain ofTrinidad and Tobago U-20 team during the2001 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament in Trinidad. Lee collided head to side with Donovan which resulted in Lee being paralyzed after sustaining neck and spine injuries, while Donovan had fractured ribs.[67] Lee died in 2003 from complications caused by his condition, the stadium now carrieshis name.[68]
Donovan made his World Cup finals debut in the2002 World Cup starting in the shock upset of pre-tournament favoritesPortugal, a match the Americans won 3–2. Donovan's cross in the 29th minute deflected in offJorge Costa, giving the U.S. a 2–0 lead. Later, Donovan would tally his first World Cup finals goal in the 83rd minute of a 3–1 loss toPoland in the third match of the group stage. He then scored his second goal of the tournament on a header which clinched a 2–0 round of 16 victory for the Americans over arch-rivalMexico. Though the U.S. would go on to lose 1–0 toGermany in the quarter-finals, Donovan would later be namedBest Young Player of the tournament.[69]
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Donovan was a member of the U.S. squad at the2006 World Cup, in which the Americans were eliminated in the group stage. Failing to provide any goals or assists throughout the three matches, he was widely criticized by American viewers for his performance.[70] The following year, he led the U.S. to the2007 Gold Cup title with four goals, including a crucial penalty in the 2–1 victory over Mexico in the final. On January 19, 2008, Donovan scored his 35th international goal, a penalty againstSweden, and passedEric Wynalda as the United States' all-time leading goal scorer. Donovan reached 100 caps at age 26 on June 8, 2008, in a friendly againstArgentina that ended in a 0–0 draw, becoming the fourth-youngest person to do so.[71] Donovan captained the U.S. in the group stage of the2009 FIFA Confederations Cup due toCarlos Bocanegra's injury absence. Donovan scored on a penalty kick againstItaly, shortly after his team had been reduced to ten men, and scored for the U.S. in a 3–2 defeat toBrazil in thefinal. On October 10, 2009, Donovan scored on a free-kick, giving the U.S. a 3–2 victory overHonduras inSan Pedro Sula that clinched World Cup qualification.
Donovan played every minute of the U.S. campaign at the2010 FIFA World Cup inSouth Africa. He scored againstSlovenia with a powerful close-range finish to begin a U.S. comeback for a 2–2 draw,[72] and the only goal in the dying seconds of a 1–0 defeat ofAlgeria with a finish off a reboundedClint Dempsey attempt, leading the U.S. to first place in their World Cup group for the first time since 1930.[73] Donovan scored a penalty in the round of 16 againstGhana as the U.S. lost 2–1 after extra time and were eliminated from the competition.[74] His goals in South Africa made Donovan the highest scoring American male in World Cup history,[74] and just the third American man to score in more than one World Cup, afterBrian McBride and Clint Dempsey.[75] His total of five World Cup goals is the most for any man representing a team fromCONCACAF.
After missing the first two World Cup qualifiers of 2013 due to his extended off-seasonsabbatical, Donovan was left off of the squad byJürgen Klinsmann for the June qualifying matches, despite having returned to playing full-time in March.[76] However, Donovan was re-called to the national team for the2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup to be played in July.[77] On July 5, 2013, he became the first U.S. player to reach the 50 international goal mark and the fourth man in CONCACAF to score 50 international goals after a brace againstGuatemala in a warmup friendly before the Gold Cup.[78][79] Four days later, Donovan became the first player to reach 50 goals and 50 assists for the United States during a 6–1 group stage victory in their 2013 Gold Cup opener againstBelize in which he had one goal and two assists.[12] After the U.S. won the Gold Cup title with a 1–0 victory overPanama, Donovan was awarded the tournament's Best Player trophy after tying for the tournament lead with five goals scored. He started every match of the tournament for the United States. Donovan was recalled to the full national squad for the first time in over a year for the U.S.'s September World Cup qualifying matches againstCosta Rica and Mexico. Donovan started and played 90 minutes in both games. With the U.S. needing a win over Mexico to clinch qualification, Donovan's corner kick assistedEddie Johnson's go-ahead goal in the 57th minute. Then, in the 78th minute, Donovan scored off a low cross fromMix Diskerud to make the score 2–0, and effectively seal the win, and the World Cup berth.[80]
In May 2014, Donovan was named in the preliminary squad for the2014 World Cup and joined the team in training camp. However, on May 22, 2014, he was controversially omitted from the final U.S. squad by manager Jürgen Klinsmann. Donovan's absence from the team even became the comedic subject of a PlayStation Commercial where Donovan makes light of his newly found free time.[81] Klinsmann later called his decision "one of the toughest decisions in [his] coaching career", but said, "I just think the other guys right now are a little bit ahead of him."[82] Klinsmann's decision, which was described by media staff as abruptly timed after Klinsmann had previously promised to wait until after the team's friendly matches to announce cuts,[82] saw additional controversy when Klinsmann's son Jonathan published and later deleted a post onTwitter that appeared to ridicule Donovan following the announcement.[83]
On October 10, 2014, Donovan played his 157th and final match for the United States in a friendly againstEcuador inEast Hartford, Connecticut. The match was arranged byUnited States Soccer Federation presidentSunil Gulati to give Donovan a proper farewell, despite the disagreement between Donovan and Klinsmann.[84] Following his retirement, he was named byThe Guardian as the U.S. team's greatest ever player.[85]
After playing in theMajor Arena Soccer League during the2018–19 season, Donovan was named to the United States national arena soccer team ahead of a friendly against Mexico.[86]
Donovan was a versatile attacker known for his pace and stamina as well as intelligence and technical skill,[87] allowing him to play at various forward andmidfield positions at different points of his career. His longtime international and club manager Bruce Arena was once quoted as saying, "the problem with Landon is that he's your best player at so many positions that you never know where to put him."[88]
Particularly in the early parts of his career, Donovan played as awithdrawn striker and was most noted for his quickness and goalscoring ability. As his professional career progressed, Donovan was increasingly utilized by managers as a wideattacking midfielder, where he could additionally benefit the team with his playmaking abilities, passing vision, and defensive work rate.[88][89] Donovan also provided capable delivery on set pieces (as well as occasionally scoring fromdirect kicks) and served as first-choicepenalty taker for club and country for much of his career.
In July 2015, it was announced Donovan had been appointed as head coach for a team consisting of young MLS players for the2015 MLS Homegrown Game.[90] The game took place on July 28, 2015, atDick's Sporting Goods Park inCommerce City, Colorado. Donovan led a team of MLS academy graduates, assembled just one day prior, to a 1–1 regulation tie, followed by a 4–5 shootout loss, as reported online.[91] Donovan selected and coached the team a second time in the 2016 edition of the event.
On November 14, 2019, Landon Donovan was named the inaugural manager of theSan Diego Loyal, a team that he helped co-found and was the vice president of soccer operations.[92] Noting that his hiring was a risk for the club because he had never coached before, Donovan surrounded himself with an experienced backroom staff. He brought on former coachPaul Buckle and formerUnited States women's national soccer team playerShannon MacMillan as senior advisors to his staff. While also bringing in experienced coaches in Carrie Taylor,Nate Miller and Matt Hall to his staff.[93][94][95] Donovan noted that he wanted a staff with experienced coaches because they could aid him with the day-to-day responsibilities with a coaching role that he was unfamiliar with.[92]
During his first season in charge, Donovan lead San Diego to 6-5-5 record.[96] Donovan and the Loyal garnered international headlines when they forfeited the last two matches of the season after having alleged instances of racial and homophobic abuse directed at their players by theLos Angeles Galaxy II andPhoenix Rising respectively went unpunished.[97] After the second instance, where Phoenix Rising playerJunior Flemmings allegedly directed a homophobic slur against openly gay San Diego playerCollin Martin, Donovan stated: "We went through a really hard incident in the LA match and we made a vow to ourselves, our community, our players, the club and the USL that we would not stand for bigotry, homophobic slurs and things that don't belong in our game. Our players in the heart and passion of the moment still wanted to play, but if we wanted to be true to who we are as a club, we have to speak and we have to act. After half-time we all decided if the player who used the homophobic slur was not removed from the game – either by the officials or by his coach – we would not play. If they are not willing to act, we have to act."[97]
On December 2, 2022, Donovan was elevated to full-time Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations for Loyal. Associate head coachNate Miller was promoted to head coach.[98]
On October 23, 2023, The San Diego Loyal dissolved as a result of the inability to find a stadium and the MLS expanding to San Diego.[99]
On August 16, 2024, Donovan was announced as the interim head coach ofNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL) clubSan Diego Wave FC, replacing interim coachPaul Buckle.[100] Donovan's tenure as interim head coach ended on November 18, 2024.[101]
After being left off the 2014 World Cup roster for the United States, Donovan joined theESPN/ABC broadcast team for the World Cup as a studio analyst.[102] After his retirement, Donovan became a color commentator forFOX Sports, participating in the network's coverage of the United States–Ecuador quarter-final of theCopa América Centenario.[103] He also called the USMNT games on Fox withJohn Strong andStuart Holden[104][105] and then teamed up with ESPN/ABC's lead play-by-play announcerIan Darke for the2022 World Cup andEuro 2024.[106][107]
Donovan, along with Warren Smith, a co-founder ofSacramento Republic, founded aUSL Championship expansion team in June 2019.[108] The team debuted in theUSL Championship in 2020. Warren Smith will be the president, while Donovan will be the executive vice president of soccer operations and head coach of the new club.[108] Provisionally namedUSL San Diego, the team's name and crest would be developed through fan engagement and reflect the interests of the city.[108] On November 2, 2019, the team announced their branding and naming themselvesSan Diego Loyal.[109]
On 17 June 2021, it was announced that Donovan would be joiningLincoln City as a Strategic Advisor, working with the Board, Chief Executive Liam Scully and Director of FootballJez George to enhance the club's network and relationships, particularly within North America.[110]
Donovan married actressBianca Kajlich on December 31, 2006; the couple separated in July 2009,[111] and Donovan filed for divorce in December 2010.[112] In May 2015, he married Hannah Bartell.[113] They welcomed their first child, son Talon, in January 2016.[114] Donovan has spoken publicly about dealing withdepression throughout his life and career, and has criticized the professional sports world for its approach to mental health issues.[115]
Since joining the Galaxy, Donovan has resided inManhattan Beach, California. He speaks fluent Spanish, which he learned both in school and through playing inHispanic clubs and leagues while growing up in California.[116] He also speaks German as a result of his time spent in Germany.[117] After his two brief stints playing for Everton in which he became a fan favorite, Donovan declared himself an "Evertonian for life".[118]
He was featured on the American cover ofFIFA Football 2003,[119] the North American covers ofFIFA 07,[120]FIFA 11[121] andFIFA 12[122] video games.
In 2016, Donovan became a part owner of Welsh football clubSwansea City, joining several other Americans in an investment group that has a majority stake in the club.[123]
During the2018 FIFA World Cup, a tournament that the USMT did not qualify for, Donovan tweeted a message of support for the Mexican national team. The message was sponsored by American financial services companyWells Fargo and was accompanied by a graphic of Donovan brandishing a scarf emblazoned with the text "My other team is Mexico".[124] He was widely criticized, including by his former international teammateCarlos Bocanegra, to whom Donovan responded by saying he should "remember where [he] came from"—a remark referencing Bocanegra's Mexican heritage.[125]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1999–2000 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000–01 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | Bundesliga | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| Bayer Leverkusen II | 1999–2000 | Regionalliga Nord | 20 | 6 | — | — | — | 20 | 6 | |||
| 2000–01 | Oberliga | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 3 | |||
| Total | 28 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 9 | ||||
| San Jose Earthquakes (loan) | 2001 | Major League Soccer | 22 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | 6[b] | 5 | 30 | 12 | |
| 2002 | Major League Soccer | 20 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2[c] | 1 | 2[b] | 1 | 24 | 8 | |
| 2003 | Major League Soccer | 22 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 1 | 4[b] | 4 | 27 | 16 | |
| 2004 | Major League Soccer | 23 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1[c] | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 28 | 7 | |
| Total | 87 | 32 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 114 | 45 | ||
| LA Galaxy | 2005 | Major League Soccer | 22 | 12 | 3 | 2 | — | 4[b] | 4 | 29 | 18 | |
| 2006 | Major League Soccer | 24 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2[c] | 1 | — | 29 | 16 | ||
| 2007 | Major League Soccer | 25 | 8 | 3 | 1 | — | 5[d] | 4 | 33 | 13 | ||
| 2008 | Major League Soccer | 25 | 20 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 20 | |||
| 2009 | Major League Soccer | 25 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[b] | 3 | 29 | 15 | ||
| 2010 | Major League Soccer | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 29 | 7 | |
| 2011 | Major League Soccer | 23 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 8[e] | 2 | 4[b] | 3 | 36 | 17 | |
| 2012 | Major League Soccer | 26 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 5[b] | 2 | 34 | 11 | |
| 2013 | Major League Soccer | 22 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 27 | 10 | |
| 2014 | Major League Soccer | 31 | 10 | 1 | 0 | — | 5[b] | 3 | 37 | 13 | ||
| 2016[f] | Major League Soccer | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[b] | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||
| Total | 253 | 113 | 11 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 35 | 19 | 317 | 141 | ||
| Bayern Munich (loan) | 2008–09 | Bundesliga | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
| Everton (loan)[g] | 2009–10 | Premier League | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2[h] | 0 | — | 13 | 2 | |
| Everton (loan)[g] | 2011–12 | Premier League | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| León | 2017–18 | Liga MX | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| San Diego Sockers (indoor) | 2018–19 | Major Arena Soccer League | 8 | 5 | — | — | 2[i] | 0 | 10 | 5 | ||
| Career total | 412 | 161 | 26 | 7 | 27 | 5 | 51 | 29 | 511 | 200 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 20 | 6 | |
| 2003 | 15 | 7 | |
| 2004 | 14 | 5 | |
| 2005 | 15 | 6 | |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 12 | 9 | |
| 2008 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2009 | 15 | 5 | |
| 2010 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2011 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2013 | 10 | 8 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 157 | 57 | |
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
| San Diego Loyal | March 7, 2020 | December 2, 2022 | 85 | 39 | 17 | 29 | 138 | 120 | +18 | 045.88 |
| San Diego Wave (interim) | August 16, 2024 | Present | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Total | 85 | 39 | 17 | 29 | 138 | 120 | +18 | 045.88 | ||
San Jose Earthquakes[129]
LA Galaxy[129]
San Diego Sockers
United States[129]
Individual
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | LA Galaxy captain 2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by David Beckham | LA Galaxy captain 2009–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | USA captain 2012–2014 | Succeeded by |
United States squads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Awards | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
