U.S. women’s national team coach Vlatko Andonovski has resigned, according to a person familiar with the decision. The announcement is expected to be made on Thursday.
Unexpected Resignation After Disappointing World Cup
The resignation comes shortly after the U.S. women’s team’s early exit from the Women’s World Cup, marking their worst performance in the history of the tournament. Despite a victory over Vietnam in the group stage, the team struggled with draws against Netherlands and Portugal, barely making it to the knockout stage. Their journey ended with a loss to Sweden in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw. Over the course of the tournament, the U.S. only managed to score four goals.
A New Era for U.S. Women’s Soccer
Vlatko Andonovski, who took over as coach in October 2019 from two-time World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis, had a relatively successful tenure with a record of 51-5-9. However, his performance in major tournaments was lackluster, with a record of 3-2-5.
Focusing on Young Players and Building a Strong Foundation
Despite the disappointment, Andonovski remained optimistic about the potential of the young players on his team. Fourteen players on the roster were making their World Cup debut, and twelve of them had never played in a major tournament before. Andonovski expressed his pride in their growth and development during his time as coach.
Preparation for Future Success
Following a disappointing bronze medal finish at the Tokyo Olympics, Andonovski shifted his focus to nurturing young talent in preparation for future international competitions. Players like Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman emerged as promising talents during this period.
Injuries Hamper Team’s Performance
Injuries also plagued the team leading up to the tournament, with key players like Mallory Swanson and captain Becky Sauerbrunn unable to recover in time due to knee and foot injuries, respectively.
Despite the setbacks, the United States remains committed to reclaiming their dominance in women’s soccer and finding a new coach who will lead them to victory in future tournaments.
