Reign FC manager Vlatko Andonovski has been officially hired as the new head coach of the United States women's national team. On Monday, U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro made the proclamation, bringing an end to the hunt for the successor of two-time World Cup winner Jill Ellis.
The Macedonian-American soccer coach and former player comes to U.S. Soccer with a lot of experience under his belt, having served as a head coach in all seven seasons of the National Women's Soccer League. The 43-year-old began his career in the National Women's Soccer League with FC Kansas City where he spent five seasons and won two championships in 2014 and 2015.
In 2018, he completed a switch to Reign FC, and has since been there before to his newest appointment. In essence, Andonovski's remarkable achievement with the Seattle outfit - albeit his side failing to win the championship - resulted in him being named NWSL Coach of the Year. This is his second time of being awarded the honor with the first coming after his debut season as the headcoach of Kansas City in 2013.
Officially welcoming the new USWNT boss in Monday's press event held in New York City, U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro declared: "We are thrilled to welcome Vlatko to the U.S. Soccer family," said Cordeiro.
"As one of the most accomplished coaches in the NWSL history, he's proven he can help world-class players reach their peak, inspire his teams and win championships. He is widely respected by players and leaders across our soccer community, and he has the work ethic and winning mentality to guide the greatest women's soccer program in history into their next era of success.
Officially Official @ussoccer hires Vlatko Andonovski as the new head coach of the #USWNT.
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) October 28, 2019
U.S. Women's National Team general manager Kate Markgraf, who spearheaded the coaching search, then added: "From the moment I came aboard, the main focus has been on hiring a new U.S. Women's National Team coach.
"We identified the qualities we thought were most important for this unique position, we talked to quite a few people in the women's soccer community domestically and around the world, and in the end, Vlatko was the best fit with his experience with elite players, how he sees the game, how he coaches the game and manages players, and his overall personality and ability to take on a job of this magnitude.
"I know all the players and staff are excited to begin this new chapter in Women's National Team history with him and start the important work towards qualifying for the Olympics."
Andonovski's first official assignment as the new USWNT boss will be to select players his side's last two international friendlies in 2019 against Sweden and Costa Rica scheduled for November 7 and November 10 respectively.
He's been here since the very beginning.
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) October 28, 2019
Andonovski coached 165 games in the NWSL, most all-time. pic.twitter.com/bmrRYLDYKV
"First, I want to sincerely thank U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro, our Women's National Team General Manager Kate Markgraf and U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Earnie Stewart for this opportunity," he said at Monday's press conference.
"It's a huge honor and I'm very excited to get started with this group of players and staff as we work towards continued success for this program. All of the talented coaches and players that have come before have built a legendary tradition of excellence and I'm committed to working very hard to continue to move this program forward."
