Breaking: U.S. Women’s National Team Coach Vlatko Andonovski Resigns
The U.S. women’s national team is set to undergo a major transformation as coach Vlatko Andonovski has resigned from his position, according to a person familiar with the decision. The news comes less than two weeks after the team suffered an early exit from the Women’s World Cup.
Andonovski, who took over as coach in October 2019, had a mixed performance during his tenure. While he finished with an impressive record of 51-5-9, he struggled to replicate the success of his predecessor, Jill Ellis, who led the United States to back-to-back World Cup titles.
The Women’s World Cup campaign for the United States was underwhelming, to say the least. The team managed just one victory against Vietnam in the group stage, followed by draws against Netherlands and Portugal. Despite qualifying for the knockout stage, the Americans failed to advance further, falling to Sweden in a penalty shootout after a scoreless tie. Throughout the tournament, the U.S. only scored four goals, a far cry from their dominant performances in previous years.
This disappointing result marked the first time in the team’s history that they finished worse than third place in a World Cup. The early exit raised questions about Andonovski’s ability to lead the team to victory. However, he had shown promise in developing young players ahead of the tournament.
As the team regroups and searches for a new coach, they will have to address the issues that plagued them in recent competitions. Injuries to key players, such as Mallory Swanson and Becky Sauerbrunn, hindered the team’s performance. Additionally, promising forward Catarina Macario was unable to play due to a torn ACL.
The World Cup itself proved to be challenging for many elite teams, as established powerhouses like Germany, Brazil, and Canada also faced early exits. The tournament in Sydney will crown a first-time winner, highlighting the growing parity in the women’s game.
The search for Andonovski’s replacement will need to be conducted quickly, as the United States has already qualified for the 2024 Olympics in France. Before that, the team has scheduled exhibition matches against South Africa in September.
The resignation of Andonovski underscores the need for a robust and diverse hiring process. Jill Ellis, the former coach, emphasized the importance of making the right choice for the future of the team.
Stay tuned for further updates on the search for a new coach and the direction of the U.S. women’s national team.