Vlatko Andonovski steps down as USWNT head coach

The U.S. women’s national team will look a bit different when it takes the field again this September.

Vlatko Andonovski has stepped down as USWNT head coach, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday. Twila Kilgore has been named interim head coach as U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker begins the search for a new head coach. 

Kilgore served as an assistant coach for the past year and a half, and in 2021 became the first American-born woman to earn U.S. Soccer’s Pro Coaching License.  

“It’s been the honor of my life to coach the talented, hard-working players of the USWNT for the past four years,” said Andonovski. “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,” he added. “I will be forever thankful to the U.S. Soccer Federation for giving me the chance to coach this remarkable team.” 

Andonovski took over as USWNT head coach in 2019 after the second of two-straight World Cup triumphs and only lost five of his 65 matches in charge of the program. However, the program’s underwhelming World Cup performance in Australia and New Zealand this summer likely played a part in U.S. Soccer’s decision to part ways with the 46-year-old.

The USWNT opened group stage play in Australia and New Zealand with a 3-0 shutout win over Vietnam but would struggle in later matches. The Netherlands held the Americans to a 1-1 draw in their second group stage match before a goal-less draw vs Portugal helped the USWNT inch itself over the advancement line.

Andonovski’s reign as head coach finishes with a 51-5-9 record across all competitions, which included a Bronze Medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics and four SheBelieves Cup titles.

The USWNT’s schedule is set to resume in September with a pair of home friendlies against South Africa.