Head Coach of US Women’s National Soccer Team, Vlatko Andonovski Resigns
Vlatko Andonovski, the head coach of the United States women’s national soccer team, has officially resigned from his position, according to three individuals with direct knowledge of the situation. This announcement marks the end of Andonovski’s relatively tumultuous tenure as the manager of what was once the world’s pre-eminent team.
While the U.S. Soccer Federation has yet to make an official statement, the people who shared the news did so under the condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly. However, it is expected that the federation will announce Andonovski’s departure as coach on Thursday.
Andonovski’s four-year contract was set to expire at the end of the year. As a result, U.S. Soccer plans to appoint an interim coach for two friendly matches this fall. The federation aims to have a permanent replacement named by the end of the year in order to begin preparations for next summer’s Paris Olympics.
Andonovski’s resignation does not come as a surprise. The United States women’s team underperformed at this year’s Women’s World Cup after winning the previous two tournaments. The team suffered its earliest elimination in tournament history, losing a penalty shootout to rival Sweden in the round of 16. Throughout the World Cup, the United States only managed to score four goals and struggled against opponents they were expected to dominate.
Prior to his role with the US women’s team, Andonovski had an impressive record as a head coach in the National Women’s Soccer League for seven years. He was appointed by U.S. Soccer in October 2019 following the departure of Jill Ellis, who stepped down after leading the team to back-to-back Women’s World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019.
Andonovski started his tenure with 16 consecutive wins, securing titles at the 2020 Concacaf Olympic qualifying tournament and the SheBelieves Cup. However, his first two years on the job proved to be challenging due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed the Tokyo Olympics back a year. When the Games finally took place, the United States, considered favorites, only managed to win a bronze medal.
Andonovski faced criticism for his tactical decision-making and handling of substitutes during the World Cup. Star players like Alex Morgan and Julie Ertz were given different roles than they had previously played, yielding mixed results. Promising newcomers, such as Ashley Sanchez and 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson, also had limited playing time.
Ultimately, Andonovski fell short of expectations, and Sweden advanced while the United States was left disappointed. The team’s underperformance led to criticism from former players, including Tobin Heath and Carli Lloyd, who expressed dissatisfaction with the style of play.
As U.S. Soccer begins the search for a new head coach, the focus will be on finding a candidate who can lead the team to success in future tournaments and reclaim its position as the world’s top women’s soccer team.