USWNT: Who is Vlatko Andonovski?

The USWNT confirmed the hiring of the newest manager Vlatko Andonovski to succeed Jill Ellis. But who is the new man and what might his tenure look like?

U.S. Soccer officially confirmed Vlatko Andonovski as the next manager of the four-time World Cup-winning U.S. Women’s National Team following the departure of Jill Ellis. But who is Andonovski and what can be expected of his USWNT tenure?

In all seven NWSL seasons, Andonovski has managed a side in the league while winning back-to-back championships with FC Kansas City in 2014 and 2015 and making the playoffs five of the seven seasons at the helm.

Most recently, Andonovski brought his side Reign FC to the playoffs as the number four seed despite multiple season-ending injuries and international call-ups due to this summer’s Women’s World Cup. He also finished the season receiving the 2019 NWSL Manager of the Year Award.

During his time at Reign FC, Andonovski’s squad consisted of USWNT players Megan Rapinoe and Allie Long, who were in France for the USWNT World Cup defense and will be working towards making the roster for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

As well as Rapinoe and Long, Andonovski’s hand is present in multiple other players who have put on the USA crest. In Kansas City, he managed current Utah Royals center-back Becky Sauerbrunn and USWNT legends Lauren Holiday and Heather O’Reilly.

Andonovski has worked with national team stars before, and those players consistently praise their manager and his efforts with every team he has been with, making him a favorite amongst the players as reported by Sports Illustrated’s Grant Grant Wahl on Thursday of last week.

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Tactically, Andonovski has played a 4-3-3 formation with Reign FC, similar to that used of Jill Ellis in the 2019 World Cup, which could make for a seamless transition for the players with their newest manager.

Andonovski has little-to-no buffer time before his first major challenge which is the 2020 Olympics set to take place in Tokyo, Japan this summer. Following a disappointing 2016 Olympic run and a successful 2019 World Cup, there will be added pressure for the USWNT to bring home the gold following their World Cup win, something that has never been done.

Andonovski has the responsibility of managing the best team in the world and continuing the tradition of success the USWNT has built while the rest of the world is building their women’s programs to take down the juggernaut United States.

But it seems that U.S. Soccer has gotten it right by selecting someone who knows the players, is liked by the players and knows the system as well as anyone. Vlatko Andonovski has the challenge of a lifetime ahead of him. Only time will tell if he is up for it.