San Diego Wave FC has a new interim coach.

Landon Donovan, the former standout of the US Men’s National Team, has been named interim coach of the NWSL club as of Friday. He will dive right into his role, with his first match scheduled for Tuesday in the Concacaf W Champions Cup opener against Santa Fe FC in Panama City, Panama.

“We are excited to see Landon (Donovan) join our team and guide us for the rest of the season, especially as we enter our inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup,” said Camille Ashton, the sporting director and general manager of Wave FC, in a statement on Friday. “Landon brings a wealth of knowledge, skill, and experience as a player and a coach, making him the perfect leader to help us reach our goals—securing a playoff spot and competing for a championship title. His enthusiasm for this city, dedication to developing the sport, and player-centric mindset make him an ideal fit for our club.”

Donovan takes over from Paul Buckle, the previous interim coach, who is stepping down due to “personal commitments” after overseeing the team throughout the summer following the dismissal of Casey Stoney in late June. “We extend our thanks to Paul for his professionalism and for honoring his commitment during the summer,” Ashton noted.

As a California native, Donovan is regarded as one of the top American soccer players ever. He won six MLS Cups during his career with the San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014) and received the Golden Boot award in 2008.

On the international front, Donovan achieved 157 caps for the United States men’s national team from 2000 to 2014. He holds the record for the most assists in international play (58) and is tied with Clint Dempsey for the highest number of international goals by an American player (57). He is the only American to surpass both 50 assists and 50 goals in his international career.

The Wave FC roster features Olympic gold medalist Alex Morgan and Naomi Girma, who recently won a gold medal with the US Women’s National Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics earlier this month. As of Friday evening, San Diego Wave FC is placed 10th in the NWSL standings.