Will Caroline Sjöblom return as KC Current coach? Top questions as offseason begins

As the final whistle blew in Sunday’s 2-2 draw, it signaled the end of a tumultuous and frustrating season for the Kansas City Current.

After making a run to the NWSL championship game in 2022, the Current were eliminated from postseason play weeks prior to their final match in 2023.

Caroline Sjöblom was in charge of all but the season’s first three games, given the interim tag after the club fired Matt Potter early in the 2023 season. After Sunday’s draw brought a close to the regular season, Sjöblom spoke about the team’s growth in 2023.

“I think we play a fantastic (style of) soccer right now,” Sjöblom said. “I think we play an attractive (style of) soccer, something that I stand for and (something) I believe in. It’s how I have been coaching throughout my career: I want a possession-based style that is attractive for fans to come and watch.”

That journey wasn’t easy.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” Sjöblom said. “It’s been a lot of frustration.”

That started with a plethora of injuries to a squad that had high hopes.

When Current general manager Camille Ashton commented, via a statement, on Potter’s firing back in April, she cited the club’s 0-3 start to the season and a “lack of collaboration.” She also dismissed the injuries the team was facing at the time, saying: “Irrespective of that, we believe in the players that we do have and the players that are healthy.”

The injuries that plagued Potter’s start, however, continued into Sjöblom’s time in charge.

“When I took over, we had almost 14, 15 players injured at the time,” Sjöblom said. “We didn’t have depth. We didn’t have (defensive midfielders), and we also struggled with the defensive line.”

Many of those missing players were offseason additions — signings that were made to bolster the depth of the team.

Vanessa DiBernardo and Morgan Gautrat were signed with the hope they could bring a veteran presence in the midfield. Both missed significant time in the 2023 season.

Desiree Scott was brought back despite a significant offseason injury with the hope she would return. It unfortunately never came to fruition on the field. Likewise, Hanna Glas was signed to bolster the back line but never played a minute while recovering from a knee injury.

Then there was the NWSL Season-Ending Injury list, which included Sam Mewis, Claire Lavogez, and Mallory Weber. The roster’s depth was decimated, and that was even more the case when lineup regulars missed time throughout the season.

Lo LaBonta and Kristen Hamilton, two fixtures in the lineup and veteran leaders, each missed extended time due to injury. And early in the season, Elizabeth Ball and Alex Loera found their way on the injury report.

The Current had chances to bring in new players, and they added Croix Soto, an undrafted rookie, as a defensive reinforcement. The Current played two rookie center backs — Soto and Gabrielle Robinson — among their regular lineup. They gave an admirable effort on the pitch, but there were still growing pains.

Loera, LaBonta, Ball and Hamilton all eventually returned and helped the team down the stretch. But the Current were 2-6 in regular-season play by the end of May and 4-8 after June, a significant early season hole.

That was certainly one of the reasons for the Current’s struggles.

Another question lies with how the team plays — or perhaps will play moving forward.

And whether or not Sjöblom’s style was the right fit in 2023 — or if it will be next year.

For success in Sjöblom’s system, a connection is required between the defenders and defensive midfielders. The left and right backs — outside defenders — have opportunities to get forward and join the attack, meaning the defensive midfielders can have added responsibility in trying to cover for them.

Ultimately, the success of that system heavily relies upon a consistent spine — the central column of center backs, midfielders and strikers. That was where most of the Current’s injury issues took place in 2023.

Despite the various circumstances and reasons for them, Alex Loera voiced her appreciation for Sjöblom and how she led the team, saying the players “enjoyed her leadership.”

“Injuries were a big part of this season,” Loera said. “So I think she dealt with that very well and held her head high in all that she did.

“I think we’re very grateful to have her here. ... If that interim tag comes off, then we’re happy to continue having her.”

That’s another question entering the offseason.

With the 2023 season coming to a close, one of the next steps for the Current will be to either remove Sjöblom’s interim tag and make her the permanent coach — or make an outside hire.

ESPN reported in August, citing “a source with knowledge of the situation,” that Kansas City native Vlatko Andonovski “is a candidate for the manager’s job” after resigning his post with the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Sjöblom stated a day after that mid-August report she hoped to coach the team next season and was interested in having the interim tag removed.

While nothing has been announced regarding anyone’s status with the Current for next season, Sjöblom’s final comments on Sunday could be interpreted as lobbying for a coaching position — either with her current NWSL club or elsewhere.

Among those comments, she passionately defended her job coaching the team in 2023, which included 12 wins, 11 losses and 3 draws under her leadership.

“I think I’ve proven to people in the league that I can be in charge of a team in the NWSL,” Sjöblom said. “And if they want to have a possession style of play, then I think I’m the right person.”