Aug. 17 (UPI) — Vlatko Andonovski, the manager of the United States Women’s National Team, has announced his resignation following the team’s exit from the Round of 16 at the 2023 World Cup, according to a statement released by the U.S. Soccer Federation on Thursday.
In a news release, Andonovski stated, “It has been a great honor to coach the talented and hard-working players of the U.S. women’s team over the past four years. I am very optimistic about the future of this program, especially considering the young players who have emerged and will undoubtedly become leaders and impactful players moving forward.”
Twila Kilgore will serve as the interim head coach while the federation’s sporting director, Matt Crocker, will lead the search for a permanent replacement for Andonovski.
Andonovski, 46, took over as the U.S. women’s coach in 2019 after Jill Ellis, who led the team to World Cup titles in 2014 and 2019. His four-year contract was set to expire at the end of this year.
“We are grateful for Vlatko’s dedication to our women’s national team over the past four years,” said Crocker. “He has worked tirelessly and been a strong and positive leader for our women’s program. We thank him for his contributions to U.S. Soccer and wish him a bright future in the sport.”
The U.S. women entered the 2023 World Cup with a 13-game winning streak in the tournament, including their previous two titles. They continued this run with a 3-0 victory against Vietnam in the group stage, but then drew with the Netherlands, ending their streak in their second group stage match.
The team barely made it to the knockout stage after a 0-0 draw with Portugal, but ultimately lost 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout against Sweden, resulting in their earliest World Cup exit in history.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Andonovski said, “While we are disappointed by the outcome at this year’s World Cup, I am immensely proud of the progress this team has made, their support for each other, and the inspiration they have provided for players around the world. I am forever grateful to the U.S. Soccer Federation for giving me the opportunity to coach this remarkable team.”
Sweden will face Australia in the World Cup’s third-round match, while Spain will face England in the final. As for the U.S. women, they will play South Africa in a friendly match on September 21 in Cincinnati. The next edition of the Summer Games will take place from July 26 to August 11 in 2024 in Paris.
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