Coach Andonovski speaking to the media in a press conference - Getty Images
The head coach of the United States women’s national soccer team, Vlatko Andonovski, won’t be leading the team anymore.
World Cup and Olympic Challenge
Andonovski managed the team for four years. During his time, the USWNT didn’t do well in the World Cup. They were eliminated by Sweden in the round of 16. It was the first time they didn’t make it to the semifinals in a World Cup and only the second time they didn’t win a medal in a big tournament. This came after they didn’t perform well and finished third at the Tokyo Olympics, where they were expected to do better.
Coaching Concerns and New Coach Search
Andonovski leaving wasn’t a surprise. Players and staff liked and respected him, but there were concerns about how he was coaching, especially during the World Cup. Now, the U.S. Soccer Federation will look for a new coach quickly because the Paris Olympics are less than a year away. In the meantime, they’ll pick someone to coach for friendly matches this fall temporarily.
Struggles and Elimination
The U.S. team was the favorite to win the World Cup, aiming for a third title in a row, which no other team has done before. However, things went badly. They didn’t win at least two games in the group stage for the first time ever, only getting one win and two ties. They were knocked out by Sweden in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout.
Scoring Struggles and Player Issues
The U.S. team struggled to score goals throughout Andonovski’s time as a coach. He took over from Jill Ellis in 2019 with the goal of making the team better and playing a more modern style of soccer. But COVID-19 slowed down this plan and injuries to important players. They were missing up to five of their best players during the World Cup.
Scoring Challenges and Carli Lloyd’s Critique
Under Andonovski, the team only scored four goals in four games at the 2023 World Cup. They didn’t score in their last two matches. Former U.S. star Carli Lloyd criticized the team’s effort and attitude. She said they lacked heart and were too arrogant. After they lost to Sweden, she repeated her strong criticism.
Youth Development and Legacy
Andonovski didn’t win any major tournaments with the team, but he did give chances to new young players who will be important for the team in the future. Some of them, like Naomi Girma, Emily Fox, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman, played in most of the matches during the 2023 World Cup. Andonovski’s contract was going to end later this year. He coached the team for 65 games and had 51 wins, 5 losses, and 9 ties.
