Landon Donovan

Landon Donovan is a prominent figure in international football, holding the title of all-time top assist provider for the U.S. until 2023. He shares the record of most international goals scored by a male U.S. player with Clint Dempsey. Donovan's significant presence within the Major League Soccer (MLS) is evident through his record of six MLS Cups and his status as the league's all-time assists leader. This resulted in the Major League Soccer MVP Award being renamed the Landon Donovan MVP Award in recognition of his contributions. His tenure with LA Galaxy was marked by his being the highest-paid American player in the MLS and achieving victories in the MLS Cup in 2005, 2011, and 2014.

Donovan's prowess on the field is highlighted by his landmark achievements, such as being the only seven-time winner of Player of the Year, the only American player to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark, and a tie with Christian Pulisic for four U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year awards. He played a key role in propelling the U.S. team to the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, for which he received the Best Young Player Award. His three goals in the 2010 World Cup made him the highest-scoring male American player in World Cup history. Other notable accomplishments include winning the Golden Ball at the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship and being named Best Young Player of the 2002 World Cup.

Donovan's leadership capabilities are exemplified through his roles as interim head coach of "San Diego Wave FC" of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2024 and as the inaugural manager of the San Diego Loyal. He took a strong stand against discrimination by leading San Diego Loyal to forfeit matches in response to racial and homophobic abuse towards their players. In addition to his on-field contributions, Donovan has also made significant strides in the broadcasting and business aspects of the sport. He worked as a studio analyst for the World Cup post-2014 with ESPN/ABC and as a color commentator for FOX Sports. He is a co-founder of the USL Championship team San Diego Loyal, where he also serves as the executive vice president of soccer operations and head coach. Furthermore, he became a part-owner of the Welsh football club Swansea City in 2016.