Vlatko Andonovski Resigns as Coach of U.S. Women’s National Team
In a surprising turn of events, Vlatko Andonovski has stepped down as the head coach of the U.S. women’s national team. A source familiar with Andonovski’s status confirmed the news to The Athletic on Wednesday. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that Andonovski’s resignation is yet to be officially announced, hence the need for confidentiality. However, soccer outlet 90min was the first to report the development.
According to the source, Andonovski has already attracted interest from multiple teams in both international and club soccer. Meanwhile, U.S. Soccer is in the process of finalizing an agreement to appoint assistant coach Twila Kilgore as the interim head coach. Various sources, who have been briefed on the plans, have confirmed this potential appointment. Nonetheless, the U.S. women’s national team is preparing for two upcoming friendlies against South Africa, scheduled for September 21 and 24.
Andonovski’s tenure as head coach has been marked by disappointment, particularly during the World Cup. The 46-year-old oversaw a disappointing campaign that saw the USWNT being eliminated in the last-16 stage by Sweden with a 5-4 defeat on penalties. This early exit marked the first time in history that the USWNT failed to progress further in a World Cup. Andonovski’s decisions throughout the tournament were highly scrutinized and called into question.
Having succeeded Jill Ellis in October 2019, Andonovski did not achieve success in either of the major tournaments under his leadership. The U.S. only managed a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Throughout his tenure, Andonovski recorded a total of four wins out of ten matches at the Olympics and World Cup combined. Overall, he concluded his time as head coach with an impressive record of 51 wins, 5 losses, and 9 draws.
Criticism aimed at Andonovski primarily revolved around squad selection, lack of substitutions, and the team’s tactical approach to games during the World Cup. Despite facing questions about his job security following the loss to Sweden, Andonovski chose to prioritize the well-being of his young players, stating, “I think it’s selfish to think about me, my future, and what I’m going to do when we have 20-year-old players going through this.”
Twila Kilgore, who joined as an assistant coach under Andonovski in February 2022, is set to take over the interim head coach role. Kilgore previously served as an assistant with the Houston Dash and has extensive experience coaching at various U.S. youth women’s national team training camps. She also spent 15 years coaching college teams, including a successful stint at UC Davis from 2014 to 2019. Kilgore’s own soccer background includes playing collegiate soccer at the University of Arizona.
Andonovski’s departure comes during a period of significant change within U.S. Soccer. Earlier this year, sporting director Earnie Stewart and U.S. men’s national team general manager Brian McBride left the federation. In April, former Southampton director of football operations Matt Crocker was hired as Stewart’s replacement. Crocker played a pivotal role in the search for the next USMNT coach, eventually bringing Gregg Berhalter back to the team.
As the U.S. women’s national team adjusts to the sudden coaching change, there is a sense of anticipation regarding the direction the team will take under Kilgore’s interim leadership.