Kansas City Current to appoint Vlatko Andonovski as new head coach
- Andonovski coached the USWNT from 2019-2023
- Was responsible for USA's Round of 16 exit at WWC
- KC Current missed the playoffs in 2023 NWSL season
NWSL side Kansas City Current are set to appoint Vlatko Andonovski as their new head coach, as the club aims to get back into the playoffs after a poor 2023 campaign.
According to The Athletic, the Current are in talks with the former US women's national team manager to lead the team ne
The North Macedonia native left his post as USWNT boss after an underwhelming 2023 Women's World Cup run that saw the US crash out in the Round of 16 in penalty kicks in mid-August. Although the US didn't play particularly well at the tournament, their exit was still a huge shock and wasn't expected.
He departed with an overall 51W-5L-9D record.
Should the head coach sign with Kansas, it wouldn't be Andonovski's first rodeo in the NWSL. The 47-year-old has experience with FC Reign (now OL Reign) as well as FC Kansas City, and woild look to take the Current back to the postseason with his newly-acquired wisdom after coaching at the international level.
Kansas City dismissed head coach Matt Potter after opening the 2023 campaign with three straight losses against North Carolina Courage (1-0), Portland Thorns (4-1) and Chicago Red Stars (4-2) also citing 'leadership issues' as another reason for parting ways. Caroline Sjoblom was named interim head coach in mid-April, and the Current were unable to qualify for the postseason, slumping to the basement of the NWSL table.
The Current's first season in NWSL saw them finish in the bottom of the table, and in 2022 the team finished in fifth place and came up just short in final against Portland Thorns. After finishing the 2023 season in 11th place, Kansas City will hope that Andonovski can steer the club back in the right direction.