Sources: USA coach Andonovsky steps down after World Cup exit

Vlatko Andonovski stepped down as director Sources confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday, the US Women’s National Team.

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Football outlet 90 Minutes first reported the news that Andonovski was about to resign.

This step comes in the wake of the elimination of the US national team by Sweden in the round of 16 in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which is the team’s first exit from the competition in its history.

Coupled with Andonovsky’s lackluster bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, there seems to be no way forward.

While his record with the United States was 51-5-9, his record in major tournaments was 3-2-5 (games decided by penalties are officially recorded as draws).

Sources told ESPN that the NFL’s leadership spent the weeks after the USWNT’s exit talking with players, coaches, staff, and Andonofsky.

The effort was led by USSF Athletic Director Matt Crocker, who was hired earlier this year. In the end, both parties decided it was best for Andonovski, whose contract was set to run until the end of 2023, not to return.

The review of the US women’s team program is still ongoing, sources added, including discussions about USWNT General Manager Kate Markgraf’s role moving forward.

A source familiar with the situation told ESPN that Andonovski is a candidate for the manager position at Kansas City Current. The NWSL club is currently led by caretaker manager Caroline Siopelom.

Andonovsky, 46, was hired by US Soccer in 2019, after two-time World Cup winner Jill Ellis quit.

Despite his only previous managerial experience coming at the club level, both indoors with the Missouri Comets and later with FC Kansas City and Reign FC (now the OL Reign) in the NWSL, Andonovski had the support of veteran players, who praised his player-management skills.

But cracks are starting to show in the Tokyo Olympics, as the United States seemed a long way from the side that prevailed at the 2019 World Cup two years ago.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a quiet atmosphere at the Olympics, has been cited as one of the reasons for the USWNT’s lackluster performance, even as it took home the bronze medal. As a result, Andonovsky made the decision to bring in young players.

The United States continued to achieve victories in friendlies, but the team struggled against the top teams. In late 2022, the USWNT lost back-to-back matches to England, Spain, and Germany, their first consecutive losses in 29 years.

The United States rebounded in 2023 to claim the SheBelieves Cup against Brazil, Canada and Japan, but concerns about the team’s midfield remained.

The USA also suffered an unfortunate string of injuries that ruled out Catarina Macario, Mallory Swanson, Sam Mewis and Becky Sauerbrunn. The return of Julie Ertz to the team after she gives birth to son Madden in August 2022 has boosted the aspect, but not in the expected way.

Instead of supporting a struggling midfield, Sauerbrunn’s injury meant that Erts had to move into defence. Finally, the US roster saw 14 of the 23 slots earned by female players in their Women’s World Cup debut.

Once the World Cup began, Andonovski faced criticism for his formations and inability to make game adjustments, particularly his unwillingness to use the bench.

The USWNT opened the World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Vietnam, but draws against the Netherlands and Portugal saw the United States finish second in Group E.

The game was nearly ended by the USA when Portuguese substitute Ana Capeta’s shot hit the post late in the 0-0 tie.

The Americans put in a much improved performance in the Round of 16 against Sweden, but goal-scoring remained an issue – the USA scored just four goals in four games – and the defending champions were eliminated on penalties.

In terms of replacing Andonovsky, the USSR will need to move quickly, as the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are scheduled to take place in less than a year.