Landon Donovan is returning to soccer.

Again.

In San Diego?

The U.S. men’s national team’s all-time leader in goals and assists will join the San Diego Sockers for the rest of the 2018-19 season, the Union-Tribune confirmed. SI.com first reported the signing, which will be announced 10 a.m. Thursday at Pechanga Arena San Diego.


This is the third time that Donovan has come out of retirement. He is expected to start training next week and play his first game at home on Feb. 15. He will play all home matches, three regular season road games and all playoff games.

The Sockers are 10-1 and in first place in the Pacific Division of the Major Arena Soccer League, a significant drop in competition given the 36-year-old Donovan’s legacy as one of the greatest U.S. soccer players of all time.

Donovan is tied with Clint Dempsey in all-time goals for the men’s national team, holds the goals and assists records in Major League soccer and has scored more goals in World Cup play than any other American.

Donovan first announced his retirement in 2014. He since played for the LA Galaxy at the end of the 2016 season and for Liga MX’s Club Leon in 2018.


Most recently, Donovan played an active role in trying to lure an MLS expansion team to San Diego via the Soccer City proposal.


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jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutSanders