Vlatko Andonovski, head coach of the US Womens Soccer Team, has resigned following the team’s unexpected elimination from the World Cup on Aug. 6, the Associated Press has reported On Wednesday,
U.S. soccer confirmed that his four-year deal was set to expire by the end of this calendar year. Yahoo SportsHis decisions in the game with Sweden may have hastened this.
This year’s elimination was the earliest for the U.S. womens team in history. Andronovski received criticism for not allowing key players, such as Kristie Mwis and Alyssa T. Thompson, enough time to play.
Andronovski avoided questions after the match about his personal future within the team. “I think it’s selfish to think about me, my future, what I’m gonna do, when we have 20-year-old players going through the moment, going through this situation,” he said.
“He added that he love everyone on the team. “… They’re my players, but they’re my friends. We shared four years. I was their first coach. With me, they got their very first National Team call-up. We spend times, tough times, good times.”
Vlatko previously managed the Missouri Comets, FC Kansas City and Seattle’s Reign FC.
During his own soccer career, as a central defender, Andonovski played for multiple clubs in Europe, including FK Rabotnički, Makedonija GP and FK Vardar. In the First Macedonian Football League he competed, as did in European Cups and Intertoto Cups.
He played in the U.S. for Wichita Wings before moving to Kansas City Comets.
USWNT has been contacted for comment.
This year’s World Cup was also the last for star player Megan Rapinoe, who announced her retirement a month before the tournament.
“It is with a deep sense of peace & gratitude that I have decided this will be my final season playing this beautiful game,” Rapinoe wrote on Twitter. “I never could have imagined the ways in which soccer would shape & change my life forever, but by the look on this little girl’s face, she knew all along.”
