SAN DIEGO – San Diego Loyal SC announced on Thursday that U.S. soccer legend Landon Donovan would serve as the club’s Manager in its inaugural season in the USL Championship.

Donovan’s appointment as Manager adds to his prior position as Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations for the 2020 expansion club, which is set to kick off its inaugural campaign in March 2020 at Torero Stadium on the University of San Diego campus.

“There are no names more synonymous with men’s soccer in the U.S. than Landon Donovan,” said San Diego Loyal Chairman Andrew Vassiliadis. “Landon’s talent and knowledge of the game goes beyond just his skills as a player; during all those years he was a student of the sport and developed relationships within the industry that will be vital to us as we launch our club and assemble its first roster. We are honored to have him lead our technical side, both on and off the pitch.”

Donovan’s new position coincides with his official retirement from the sport as a player. During his 19-year professional career, Donovan’s accomplishments span both his time domestically and internationally. In total, he played for six men’s professional outdoor teams covering four leagues: Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Bayern Munich (Bundesliga); Everton (Premier League); San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy (Major League Soccer) and Club León (Liga MX).

Donovan played in six MLS Cups, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and won two MLS Supporters’ Shields. Individually, he was named to an MLS record 14-consecutive MLS All-Star games from 2001-2014, was honored with the Landon Donovan MVP Award in 2009 and won the Golden Boot in 2008, as well as being one of just two players to be named MLS Cup MVP twice. He holds Major League Soccer’s all-time lead in assists (136), playoff goals (25) and is the league’s co-leader in playoff assists (14). He is second all-time to former international teammate Chris Wondolowski in regular-season goals with 145.