Donovan Ricketts will serve as Carolina Core FC's Goalkeeper Coach. Donovan will be responsible for leading the CCFC Goalkeepers and developing the goalkeeper curriculum for the professional and youth side of the club.
Ricketts started his national team career with Jamaica in 1998. Within that same year, Ricketts was named to Jamaica’s World Cup roster to represent his home country in France. He made 100 appearances for the Jamaican National Team from 1998 to 2013.
Ricketts began his professional club soccer career in 2005, playing for Bradford City AFC in Bradford, West Yorkshire. After 104 appearances for the club under manager, Colin Todd, Ricketts entered MLS in 2009 to play for Los Angeles Galaxy under the leadership of Bruce Arena.
After one year with LA Galaxy, Ricketts was awarded MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010. The following year, Ricketts went on to lead the Galaxy, with the help of David Beckham and Landon Donovan, to win the MLS Cup. Following the Galaxy’s success, Ricketts played briefly for Montreal Impact under Head Coach, Jesse Marsch, before moving to the Portland Timbers in 2012.
Donovan finished his professional career playing with the Portland Timbers from 2012-2014. With the Timbers, he made 70 appearances and earned his second recognition as MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2013. At the conclusion of Donovan Ricketts professional playing career, he totaled an astounding 370 match appearances for both club and country.
Ricketts will join the CCFC Technical Staff with ample experience as a professional goalkeeper coach. Following his professional player career, Ricketts served as the Goalkeeper Coach for FC Tulsa (formally Tulsa Roughnecks) from 2017-2023. Ricketts even spent 2022 as FC Tulsa’s Interim Head Coach.
