Yes, men in team sports are sometimes reckless and violent and they can sometimes get over the top. In a men’s soccer match, the chances of a tussle stay at an all-time high. Therefore, it might become a toxic environment, if a player doesn’t adapt well to his new surroundings. There are many examples of that. But don’t get me wrong. It’s not a regular occurrence. But when one compares it to the women’s game, the level of camaraderie within the team stays at an all-time high. At least, that’s what Landon Donovan thinks.

In a sit-down interview on Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union podcast, the USMNT legend detailed the differences in personalities between men’s and women’s soccer teams. Safe to safe, he detailed those points out to perfection. At a time when many male coaches are taking up female soccer team coaching jobs, it opens the gate for something brilliant. A cross-gender soccer perspective that works wonders.

Oh yes, and we would love it if Emma Hayes takes up the USMNT job. But that’s a tale for another day.

Landon Donovan’s interesting take on men’s and women’s soccer scenarios!

In the interview, Donovan gave his version of the mentalities of men and women in soccer terms. He mentioned, “Way easier. And in a lot more ways, way more enjoyable. As you know Lex, the male ego is an evil thing. It’s powerful in locker rooms. It’s hard to manage and deal with at times.” 

One might have noticed the amount of dressing room battles in men’s soccer. Convincing or keeping a troublemaker in the dressing room is a challenging task. This counts for almost every men’s team sport, not only soccer. But Donovan believes it is much easier in women’s sports.

He continued, “So far, my experience here has been all the women are eager to learn. They listen. They very literally do what you ask them to do. And they learn faster and are smarter than men I’ve been around my whole career. So, in that way as a coach, it’s way easier and so far, it’s been really, really enjoyable.”

Think of the simple things in soccer. In a classic European rivalry, let’s say El Clasico, there were times when the players did not shake hands after the match when the rivalry hit its peak. In women’s soccer, however, despite the ongoing rivalry, it is common to witness players shaking hands and embracing each other after the game.

Yes, times have changed now in soccer where there are instances where the Barcelona and Real Madrid players shake hands in the men’s game as well.

Therefore, Donovan’s fascinating take offers a lot to think about. The differences between men’s and women’s games are narrowing down, even so, there remain a lot of personality differences in game dynamics. It’s a really interesting take one might say!