USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski resigns following early World Cup exit
The Americans were eliminated by Sweden in the round of 16 on penalties
U.S. women’s national team coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned on Thursday, a move that comes less than two weeks after the Americans were eliminated from the Women’s World Cup.
The team’s round of 16 exit — the earliest ever in the program’s history — took place after losing to Sweden on penalty kicks. The four-time Women’s World Cup winners had never finished worse than third at the tournament.
“All of us at U.S. Soccer thank Vlatko for his dedication to our Women’s National Team over the past four years,” said U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker. “Vlatko worked tirelessly for this team and has been a strong and positive leader for our women’s program. We’re grateful for everything he has contributed to U.S. Soccer and know he has a bright future in the sport.”
Andonovski, 46, was named U.S. coach in October 2019, taking over for Jill Ellis, who had guided the team to back-to-back World Cup titles. He finished with a 51-5-9 record during his time with the team, but was only 3-2-5 in major tournaments that included the 2021 Summer Olympics and World Cup.
Andonovski was the coach of Seattle’s OL Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League when he was hired. During his seven years in the women’s pro league, he led the now-defunct FC Kansas City from the league’s inception in 2013 until the club folded in 2017, winning two NWSL titles in the process.
Following the elimination to Sweden, Andonovski told reporters he wasn’t thinking about his future, but instead focused on the younger players he brought into the national team fold.
“We spent four years together. They got their first caps with me, they got their first national team call-ups with me,” he told reporters. “We spent tough times, good times. I don’t want to see them like that. That’s all I think about.”
Crocker said he will lead the search for a new USWNT manager and named Twila Kilgore as interim coach. Kilgore served as an assistant coach and in 2021 became the first American-born woman to earn U.S. Soccer’s Pro Coaching License.
"We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Vlatko for his dedication to the women's national team,” U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said. “We know he will continue to contribute to the growth of the women’s game in the United States and wish him well in his future endeavors.”