US women’s football team coach Vlatko Andonovski resigns

• US women’s football team coach Vlatko Andonovski resigns after their poor exit from the World Cup.
• The four-time World Cup champions had difficulties the whole competition.
• During the competition, the United States only managed to score four goals.

Less than two weeks after the Americans suffered their earliest-ever elimination from the Women’s World Cup, the head coach of the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) Vlatko Andonovski announced his resignation.

As the USWNT’s head coach since October 2019, Andonovski, a former American football player of Macedonian descent, took over from Jill Ellis, who had guided the team to consecutive World Cup titles.

Ellis, who took over as coach in 2014, was instrumental in the US winning eight total tournament championships, including the World Cup in 2015 and 2019. During her time as coach, the US only lost seven games.

Andonovski had a record of 51 wins, 5 losses, and 9 draws during the course of his career. With three victories, two defeats, and five ties, his performance in important events was less noteworthy.

The four-time World Cup champions had difficulties the whole competition. Following a victory against Vietnam to kick off the group stage, the squad was able to draw the Netherlands and Portugal in the following games, barely enough to advance to the knockout stage. The Americans performed admirably against Sweden in the Round of 16, but they ultimately fell on penalties after a scoreless stalemate.

USA women’s were eliminated in the round off 16. Photo/Yahoo News

READ: England to face Spain in Women’s World Cup final

During the competition, the United States only managed to score four goals. In previous tournaments, the US have never finished worse than third. In October 2019, Jill Ellis, who had guided the team to back-to-back World Cup victories, was replaced as the United States’ head coach by Andonovski, a 46-year-old. He was 51-5-9 throughout his tenure with the team.

Another reason for Andonovski’s departure was his dismal Olympic bronze medal performance in Tokyo. These recent setbacks are said to have had an impact on his decision to resign, even though his contract was due to expire at the end of the year.

USA women’s team and coaching staff after losing on penalties. Photo/NY post

From the start of the league in 2013 until the club’s collapse in 2017, he served as the team’s manager and won two league championships. After playing for many clubs in Europe, Andonovski, a native of Skopje, Macedonia, started his professional domestic football career in the United States.

Initially, his contract was supposed to last until the end of the year after the 2023 World Cup. He was criticized during the competition for his lack of tactical changes, dubious substitutions, and general lack of player rotation. After four years in command, he leaves with a record of 51-5-9.

It’s a high-profile position that only carries pressure. Therefore, despite Andonovski’s push to diversify the player base, bring in younger players, and coach a bronze medal-winning return to the Olympic podium, a historic round of 16 World Cup departure was unlikely to be rewarded with a contract extension. Since the USWNT was disqualified, it has been widely agreed that Andonovski must be replaced.