Vlatko Andonovski is the head coach of the United States women's national soccer team. He is a former soccer player and a Macedonian. He is the 2nd man to lead the team and the 1st since Pia Sundhage 2000. He has coaching experience with both men's and female national teams.
Andonovski was the first man to coach women's national soccer team
Andonovski is a fresh face in the coaching world of women's soccer. He matches Ellis's new coach/player role better than Ellis. Ellis' style of play doesn't resonate as well with his players. His approach is more direct and resonant. He is a pioneer in the sport.
Andonovski was a native of the former Yugoslavia. His family grew up near Skopje in North Macedonia. He spent his childhood playing soccer and watching others. He turned pro and eventually made it to the top team. After a successful playing career in the United States, he settled into coaching.
Andonovski, in addition coaching the USWNT has also managed several other teams. His past coaching roles included youth soccer coaching. He was a well-known coach at FC Kansas City and was familiar to both players and scouts. His teams made the playoffs in '13 and '14. He was also a part of the Missouri Olympic Development Program.
After April Heinrichs 2000, he is now the second coach to move directly from the American pro league coaching to the coaching of the national team.
Er was a high-level ambassador for the U.S. national women's soccer team. She also won two U.S. Soccer Female player of the year awards. Her professional playing experience was with Prato in Italy, and Juventus. She was a mentor to many young players and helped them reach their full potential. The USWNT won the silver at the 2000 Summer Olympics. They also won the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003 and the Olympic gold medal 2004. Her role as head coach has been critical to the development of the women's game in the United States and abroad.
Er was a former professional soccer star, and played for Wichita Wings in NPSL 2000-02. Later she went on to play for both the Kansas City Comets as well as the Philadelphia Kixx and the California Cougars. She was a MISL All-Star two times. After earning her Bachelor's degree at Park University in 2008, she went on to receive her Master's of Coaching Education with a soccer track at Ohio University in 2018. She currently lives and works in Kansas City.
He is the first coach to switch from the pro league coaching to the national coaching position, following Pia Sundhage 2000
Pia Sundhage is a Swedish soccer manager and former player. She was 15 when she made her national soccer debut. In 1996, she led the Swedish team in two Women's World Cups as well as the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She was awarded 146 caps, and she scored 71 goals. She was also a sweeper as well as a midfielder in her career.
Sundhage has been a well-respected coach in her native country. She is more likely to be the head coach of the men’s national team than most women who have made this switch. In Sweden, 25 percent of her vote was for her, while 12 percent went to the next-ranked person. And she has been praised by a renowned Swedish management guru.
Sundhage was a key member of the coaching staff for the Philadelphia Charge during their first two seasons in the WUSA. She was later appointed Sweden head coach. She is expected to continue in that position until the end of 2006.