The United States women’s national soccer team announced Thursday it has parted ways with coach Vlatko Andonovski after the team’s disappointing World Cup run.
“All of us at U.S. Soccer thank Vlatko for his dedication to our Women’s National Team over the past four years,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said in a press release. “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.”
Crocker also announced that Twila Kilgore will serve as the USWNT’s interim coach while a search for a new coach takes place. Kilgore has served as an assistant coach for the past year and a half, and she became the first American-born woman to earn U.S. Soccer’s pro coaching license in 2021. She will lead the team in a pair of exhibition matches against South Africa on Sept. 21 in Cincinnati and Sept. 24 in Chicago.
The official change in leadership comes just two weeks after the USWNT was ousted from the World Cup in the round of 16. The team and Andonovski faced heavy criticism for its play on the pitch as reigning World Cup champions, and as a result a change was made.
“It’s been the honor of my life to coach the talented, hard-working players of the USWNT for the past four years,” Andonovski said in the press release. “I’m very optimistic for the future of this program, especially considering all the young players that got opportunities over the past few years who will no doubt be leaders and impact players moving forward. While we are all disappointed by the outcome at this year’s World Cup, I am immensely proud of the progress this team has made, the support they’ve shown for each other, and the inspiration they’ve provided for players around the world. I will be forever thankful to the U.S. Soccer Federation for giving me the chance to coach this remarkable team.”
