USWNT Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski Resigns: Twila Kilgore Named Interim

BIRSBANE – The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) formally announced today that they have “mutual parted way” with the senior team’s manager, Vlatko Andonovski.

In the same announcement, USSF’s director Matt Crocker stated that assistant coach, Twila Kilgore, has been promoted to interim head coach. 

She will begin preparing the team for two upcoming friendlies with South Africa in September, in addition to still-to-be-announced games in October and December, all ahead next summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Concurrent, the Federation will commence a world-wide recruitment process to fill the prestigious opening.

“We are excited about the path that lies ahead,” Crocker said in the press release. “We understand the challenges and have engaged with stakeholders from various corners of our sport, players, coaches, and other individuals within the soccer landscape. The insights and perspectives gathered during these discussions have been instrumental in shaping our forward-looking plan.”

He added, “Our commitment to excellence remains unshakeable. We believe this strategic plan will set the foundation for our women’s national team to achieve greater heights in the years to come.”

Andonovski was completing his fourth year of service as the team’s head coach. He had complied a 51-9-5 record, earned many accolades and praise in guiding the team from exclusively veteran players to one of a mix of seniors and upstarts.

“All of us at U.S. Soccer thank Vlatko for his dedication to our women’s national team over the past four years,” Crocker said. “Vlatko worked tirelessly for this team and has been a strong and positive leader for our women’s program. We’re grateful for everything he has contributed.”

After Andonovski’s team made a surprising early exit from the ongoing Women’s World Cup Tournament, it became apparent that a subset of supporters, sponsors and even former players came wanted him out of the role, despite his winning ways and popularly as a player’s coach.

His World Cup team lacked scoring ability throughout their short stay here in Australia and New Zealand. Following their 3-0 win against Vietnam in their opening match, they only scored once and then embarrassingly bowed out in the Round of 16. 

The U.S. and England were both favorites to win the tournament. The Lionesses will be playing for the trophy against Spain on August 20. Meanwhile, the Lady Yanks will be watching on television while still licking their wounds.

During the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan, Andonovski’s talent-filled side won a bronze medal. That outcome was considered an under-achievement.

READ MORE: Carli Lloyd Calls Out Vlatko Andonovski et al. Andonovski and Others Clap Back.

Both high visibility results set him up for criticism, and ultimately after taking ownership of the setbacks, then having discussions with USSF’s leadership, he decided to step down.

“It’s been the honor of my life to coach the talented, hard-working players of the USWNT for the past four years,” Andonovski stated via the press release. “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.”

He added,  “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.”

USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone said, “We know he will continue to contribute to the growth of the women’s game in the United States and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

In 2021, Andonovski recruitment Kilgore from the Houston Dash of the North American Women’s Soccer League. She was an assistant with Houston for two and half years.

Prior to joining Houston, she was the head women’s soccer coach at the University of California, Davis.

Notably, she is one of just four women, and the first American born woman, to earn U.S. Soccer’s Pro Coaching License.

Photo Credit: John Babiak.

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