KC Current announce Vlatko Andonovski as coach & sporting director. Here’s his vision

After rumors swirled late last week that the Kansas City Current would be bringing a familiar name back to KC, the club made the move official early Monday morning.

KC has hired Vlatko Andonovski, who led the U.S. Women’s National Team into the World Cup over the summer, as the club’s next head coach and sporting director.

“A new stadium. A new coach. A new era,” the KC Current wrote in a message on X (formerly Twitter).

Andonovski, who considers Kansas City home, resigned from the USWNT after Sweden eliminated the U.S. team in the round of 16.

Andonovski, 47, has coached women’s professional soccer teams since 2013. He led the former FC Kansas City team until 2017, winning two NWSL championships before the franchise relocated to Utah. He then coached the Seattle-based Reign FC (now OL Reign) for two seasons before being hired by the USWNT.

During his introductory press conference on Monday, Andonovski called his return to coaching in Kansas City a “return home.”

“More important to me is that I’m coming back to an organization that has a clear vision of what this team is going to look like — and the clear vision of the path where this team needs to go,” Andonovski said. “I just can’t wait to get on the field and start building the team that will make this city proud.”

The Current went through two different coaches during the 2023 NWSL season. Matt Potter, who led KC to the NWSL championship game in 2022, began the year in charge, but he was fired just three games into 2023.

Interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom led the Current for the rest of the season — the club had 12 wins, 11 losses, and 3 draws under her direction — but that was not enough for her to secure a full-time appointment.

The Current announced Friday afternoon that Sjöblom would not be back with the club, thanking her for her leadership during “a time of need” and for guiding the team through a difficult season.

Club co-founders Angie and Chris Long, as well as general manager Camille Ashton, joined Monday’s press conference, detailing their excitement for the future with Andonovski.

“We’ve talked many times about our goal to be the best women’s football club in the world,” Angie Long said. “Everything we do has that ambition in mind. For me, though, it’s even more exciting when the best in the world is right in your backyard and the perfect fit for the club.”

Andonovski’s role as head coach and sporting director means he has a greater share of input on building the Current’s roster than those who preceded him. He characterized his position as a collaborative effort with Ashton.

“We both have the same vision,” Andonovski said. “We both have the same goals for this club. I think we’re gonna form a great bond and great partnership.”

Ashton said that during her time as a player in the NWSL she admired the soccer that Andonovski’s teams played.

“Not only does Vlatko understand this league,” Ashton said, “but he understands how to win in this league, and that is invaluable.”

As for his style of play? Andonovski characterized it as one that represents the spirit of Kansas City and what it stands for.

“We know the city stands for hard work and discipline, and that will be non-negotiable,” Andonovski said. “But at the same time, we know the flair the city has and the progressive thinking. So with players like Debinha, Lo LaBonta and Michelle Cooper, that (flair) certainly will be in it. It would be crazy not to allow those players to use their creativity.”

The other part of Andonovski’s sporting director role will be to ensure and oversee the development of a “pro-player pathway.”

The path to professional soccer through the collegiate world continues to shrink internationally with a greater emphasis on development programs at a young age.

Angie Long acknowledged that the “pathway” is changing. And she thinks the Current are positioned, through coaches, resources and leadership, to create a pro-player pathway within their own club.

“How that evolves into a full-blown academy is still to be determined,” Long said. “But obviously, developing youth and really focusing on our second team is the biggest priority.”

Just this season, the NWSL implemented more of a structure to signing young players to the roster, and a few teams took advantage. The Current haven’t to this point, but Andonovski hinted in an interview with The Star that they are certainly headed that way.

“In fact,” Andonovski said, “we may see some young player signings very soon.”

This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 7:25 AM.