San Diego Loyal SC manager and executive vice president of soccer operations Landon Donovan has been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame for the class of 2023.
Donovan joins a list of the greatest referees, coaches, players, owners and administrators in the history of the sport in the United States for his accomplishments as a player. He joins SD Loyal vice president of community relations Shannon Mac Millan, who was inducted as a player into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
On Sept. 7, Donovan was named to the final ballot list of former players, veterans or builders who were part of Major League Soccer or the U.S. Soccer. He was one of five players selected to the final ballot in their first year of eligibility and ultimately one of two first-ballot players, alongside DaMarcus Beasley, to be voted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Class of 2023 National Soccer Hall of Fame — Players:
DaMarcus Beasley;
Landon Donovan;
The National Soccer Hall of Fame released the names of the finalists for the 2023 election class during halftime of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final between USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC and MLS club Orlando City SC. The Hall of Fame Voting Committees then met over the next several weeks and voted to select a maximum of three new players. The 2023 Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 6.
Donovan is coming off his third season as manager and executive vice president of soccer operations for SD Loyal. He led the club to the USL Championship postseason for a second-consecutive year in 2022 after a season-best second place finish in the Western conference standings, including a club record 60 points.
Donovan is considered one of the best players to ever step on the pitch in MLS and for the U.S. Soccer men’s national team. During his 19-year professional career, Donovan’s accomplishments span both his time domestically and internationally. In total, he played for six professional teams covering three 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). He played in six MLS Cups, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and earned two MLS Supporters’ Shields.
Donovan’s contributions to the U.S. men’s national team continues to dominate the record books. He leads the USMNT in goals (57) and assists (58), is second in appearances (157) and is the only player to surpass both 50 goals and 50 assists in his career. He played for the U.S. in three FIFA World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010) and was the fastest American to earn 100 caps.
