Vlatko Butonovski, the head coach of the United States women’s national soccer team is a former player. He is a former player, and a Macedonian. He is the third man to be the head of the team, the first since Pia Sunderhage in 2000. He has coaching experience with both men's and female national teams.
Andonovski is now the first man in charge of the women's national football team
Andonovski is a new face in the women's soccer coaching world. He matches Ellis's new coach/player role better than Ellis. Ellis' style is less direct and resonates more with players. He has already set some trends in the sport.
Andonovski was raised in the former Yugoslavia. He grew up as a child in Skopje, capital city of Republic of North Macedonia. He spent his childhood playing soccer and watching others. He turned pro and eventually made it to the top team. After a successful American playing career, he decided to become a coach.
Andonovski also coaches the USWNT. His past coaching roles included youth soccer coaching. He was known to players as well scouts when he was the FC Kansas City's coach. His teams reached the playoffs for the first time in '13, and again in '14. He was also a part of the Missouri Olympic Development Program.
After April Heinrichs 2000, he is now the second coach to move directly from the American pro league coaching to the coaching of the national team.
Er was a world-class ambassador for the U.S. women's national team and a former player, winning two U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year Awards. She also played professionally for Juventus and Prato in Italy. She helped many young athletes reach their potential, and help them progress to the professional level. The USWNT won a silver medal at 2000 Summer Olympics. In 2003, they won FIFA Women's World Cup. In 2004, the team won the Olympic gold medal. Her role in coaching has been vital to the growth of women's sport in the USA and internationally.
Er was a former professional player in soccer, having played for the Wichita Wings (NPSL) from 2000-02. She later went on to play for the Kansas City Comets, the Philadelphia Kixx, and the California Cougars. She was a two-time MISL All-Star. After earning her Bachelor's degree at Park University in 2008, she went on to receive her Master's of Coaching Education with a soccer track at Ohio University in 2018. She currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri.
He is the first to go directly from coaching in the pro league to coaching the national team after Pia Sundhage in 2000
Pia Sundhage is a Swedish soccer manager and former player. At the age of 15, she made her debut on the Swedish national team and guided them to two Women's World Cups, as well the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She was awarded 146 caps, and she scored 71 goals. She also played as a sweeper, midfielder, and sweeper throughout her career.
Sundhage is an established coach in her homeland and has a better chance to lead the men's team than most women who made the move. In Sweden, she got 25% of the vote while the next-ranked contender received only 12 percent. And she has been praised by a renowned Swedish management guru.
Sundhage, a key member on the Philadelphia Charge coaching staff in their first two seasons of the WUSA, was a key player. She was later appointed Sweden head coach. She is expected to continue in that position until the end of 2006.