Vlatko Andonovski is the head coach of the United States women's national soccer team. He is a former player, and a Macedonian. He is the second person to lead the team, and the first since Pia Moondhage in 2000. He has coaching experience with both men's and female national teams.
Andonovski is the first man to coach the women's national team
Andonovski is a brand new face in women's coaching. Andonovski fits Ellis' new coach/player model better than Ellis. Ellis' style is less direct and resonates more with players. He is a pioneer in the sport.
Andonovski was born in Yugoslavia, but grew up in Skopje (the capital of the Republic of North Macedonia). He spent his childhood watching soccer games and playing it himself. He was a pro soccer player and made it to the senior team. After a successful playing career in the United States, he settled into coaching.
Andonovski has managed other teams, in addition to the USWNT. His previous coaching jobs include assisting in coaching youth soccer. He was a well-known coach at FC Kansas City and was familiar to both players and scouts. His teams reached the playoffs for the first time in '13, and again in '14. He was also involved in the Missouri Olympic Development Program.
He is the 2nd coach to directly go from coaching in the American professional league to coaching for the national team, following April Heinrichs' 2000 departure.
Er was a world-class ambassador and player for the U.S. Soccer Female Team. She also played professionally for Juventus and Prato in Italy. She was a mentor to many young players and helped them reach their full potential. The USWNT was awarded the silver medal at 2000 Summer Olympics. It also won 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and won the 2004 Olympics gold medal. Her role as the head coach was crucial to the development and growth of women's soccer in America and around the world.
Er was a former professional soccer star, and played for Wichita Wings in NPSL 2000-02. She later went on to play for the Kansas City Comets, the Philadelphia Kixx, and the California Cougars. She was a MISL All-Star in two instances. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Park University, 2008, and Ohio University in 2018, respectively. She currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri.
After Pia Moondhage's 2000 death, he was the first to transition directly from coaching the pro league to the coaching of the national team.
Pia is a Swedish soccer manager. She was also a former player. She made her debut with the national team at age 15 and guided the Swedish team to two Women's World Cups and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She won 146 caps. She also scored 71 goal. In her career, she was also a midfielder and sweeper.
Sundhage is an established coach in her homeland and has a better chance to lead the men's team than most women who made the move. In Sweden, 25 percent of her vote was for her, while 12 percent went to the next-ranked person. A renowned Swedish management expert has praised her.
Sundhage, a key member on the Philadelphia Charge coaching staff in their first two seasons of the WUSA, was a key player. She was later named Sweden head coach, and is expected to remain in the position through the summer of 2006.