Vlatko Andreinski is the US women's national soccer coach. He is a former player, and a Macedonian. He is the second person to lead the team, and the first since Pia Moondhage in 2000. He has coaching experience for both men and women.
Andonovski is the first man to coach the women's national team
Andonovski has a new look in the coaching of women's soccer. Andonovski fits Ellis' new coach/player model better than Ellis. Ellis' style is less direct and resonates more with players. He has already established some trends within the sport.
Andonovski was born in the former Yugoslavia and grew up in Skopje, the capital city of the Republic of North Macedonia. He spent most of his childhood playing soccer, and watching other players. He made it to the senior squad and went professional. After a successful American playing career, he decided to become a coach.
Andonovski, in addition coaching the USWNT has also managed several other teams. His previous coaching jobs include assisting in coaching youth soccer. He was a well-known coach at FC Kansas City and was familiar to both players and scouts. His teams made the playoffs in '13 and '14. He was also involved in the Missouri Olympic Development Program.
He is the second coach after April Heinrichs, 2000 to transition directly from American pro league coaching to national team coaching.
Er was a great ambassador for the U.S. women’s national team, and a former soccer player who won two U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year awards. She was also a professional player for Prato in Italy and Juventus. She was a mentor to many young players and helped them reach their full potential. The USWNT won the silver at the 2000 Summer Olympics. They also won the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003 and the Olympic gold medal 2004. Her role as head coach has been critical to the development of the women's game in the United States and abroad.
Er was a former professional soccer star, and played for Wichita Wings in NPSL 2000-02. Later, Er played for the Kansas City Comets (now the Philadelphia Kixx) and the California Cougars. She was a MISL All-Star twice. In 2008, she earned her Bachelor's Degree from Park University. She also received her Master's in Coaching Education with a Soccer Track from Ohio University in 2018. She currently lives and works in Kansas City.
After Pia Sunderage in 2000, he is the only person to coach directly in the pro league and then to the national team.
Pia Sundhage, a former Swedish soccer player and manager, is now a Swedish soccer coach. 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 won 146 caps and scored 71 goals. She was also a sweeper as well as a midfielder in 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. A poll in Sweden showed that she was ranked 25 percent to the next, and 12 percent for the second-placed candidate. A renowned Swedish management expert has praised her.
Sundhage was an integral part of the Philadelphia Charge's coaching staff during their two first seasons in the WUSA. Later, she was named Sweden head coach and will likely remain there through the summer 2006.