Andonovski steps down as USWNT coach after World Cup failure - ESPN

Vlatko Andonovski has stepped down as head coach of the United States women's national team, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced on Thursday.

Assistant coach Twila Kilgore has been appointed as interim coach for a pair of friendlies against South Africa on Sept. 21 and Sept. 24. She served as an assistant coach for the past year and a half, and in 2021 became the first American-born woman to earn U.S. Soccer's Pro Coaching License.

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Regarding Andonovski's replacement, the USSF will need to act quickly, with the 2024 Olympics set to take place in Paris in less than a year.

«All of us at U.S. Soccer thank Vlatko for his dedication to our Women's National Team over the past four years,» U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said in a statement. «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 to U.S. Soccer and know he has a bright future in the sport.»

The announcement comes in the wake of the USWNT's elimination by Sweden in the round of 16 at the Women's World Cup, the team's earliest exit from the competition in its history.

Combined with a lackluster bronze-medal finish at the Tokyo Olympics, there was no way forward for Andonovski.

While his record with the U.S. was 51-5-9, his record in major tournaments was just 3-2-5 (games decided by penalties are officially recorded as draws).

«It's been the honor of my life to coach the talented, hard-working players of the USWNT for the past four years,» Andonovski said.

«I'm very optimistic for the future of this program, especially considering all the young players that got opportunities over the past few years