Jeff CarlisleUS soccer correspondent4 Minute Reading
Vlatko Andonovski has resigned as USWNT head coach
Cristina Alexander details Vlatko Andonovski’s decision to step down as USWNT head coach.
Vlatko Andonovski resigned as manager of The US women’s national team, sources confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.
An announcement from the US Soccer Federation confirming Andonovski’s exit is expected on Thursday.
Sources added that current assistant coach Twila Kilgore is likely to be appointed as interim coach for the two friendlies against South Africa on Sept.
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Soccer outlet 90min first reported the news that Andonovski was set to resign.
The move comes after the US team was eliminated by Sweden in the round of 16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the team’s first exit from the competition in its history.
Coupled with a lackluster bronze medal finish at the Tokyo Olympics, there seemed to be no way forward for Andonovski.
While his record in the US is 51-5-9, his record in major tournaments is only 3-2-5 (games decided by penalties are officially recorded as draws).
Sources told ESPN that US Soccer Federation leadership has spent the weeks since the USWNT’s dismissal talking to players, coaches, staff and Andonovski.
That effort is led by USSF sporting director Matt Crocker, who was hired earlier this year. In the end, both parties decided it was best that Andonovski, whose contract was set to run until the end of 2023, not return.
A review of the US women’s team program remains ongoing, the sources added, including discussions about the role of USWNT general manager Kate Markgraf going forward.
A source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN that Andonovski is a candidate for the Kansas City Current manager’s job. The NWSL club is currently led by interim manager Caroline Sjöblom.
Andonovski, 46, was hired by US Soccer in 2019, following the resignation of two-time World Cup-winning manager Jill Ellis.
Despite his previous managerial experience coming at the club level, both with the Missouri Comets and later with FC Kansas City and Reign FC (now OL Reign) in the NWSL, Andonovski has the support of veteran players , praising his player-management skills.
But the cracks are starting to show at the Tokyo Olympics, with the US falling far short of the side that won the 2019 World Cup two years ago.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a somber atmosphere at the Olympics, was cited as a reason for the USWNT’s lackluster performance, although it claimed a bronze medal. As a result, Andonovski made the decision to bring in young players.
The US continued to win victories in friendlies, but against the top sides the team struggled. In late 2022, the USWNT lost consecutive games to England, Spain and Germany, its first losing streak in 29 years.
The US returns in 2023 to claim the SheBelieves Cup against Brazil, Canada and Japan, but concerns about the team’s midfield persist.
The US also endured a bad string of injuries that ruled out Catarina Macario, Mallory Swanson, Sam Mewis and Becky Sauerbrunn. The return of Julie Ertz to the team after she gave birth to her son Madden in August 2022 strengthened the side, but not in the way expected.
Instead of supporting a struggling midfield, Sauerbrunn’s injury meant Ertz was forced to move into the backline. All told, the US roster saw 14 of the 23 spots taken by players making their debut at the Women’s World Cup.
When the World Cup began, Andonovski faced criticism for his lineups and inability to make in-game adjustments, especially his reluctance to use his bench.
The USWNT opened the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Vietnam, but draws against the Netherlands and Portugal saw the US finish second in Group E.
The US was almost eliminated when a shot from Portugal substitute Ana Capeta hit the post late in the 0-0 draw.
The Americans produced a better performance in the round of 16 against Sweden, but goal scoring remained a problem — the US scored just four goals in four games — and the defending champions were eliminated by the punishment.
As for Andonovski’s replacement, the USSF needs to act quickly, with the 2024 Olympics set to take place in Paris in less than a year.