Vlatko Andonovski named new KC Current Head Coach and Sporting Director
Vlad Andonovski at his Introductory Press Conference
Former U.S. Women’s national soccer team coach Vlatko Andonovski has been named the new KC Current Head Coach and Sporting Director.
“We’ve talked many times about our goal to be the best women’s football club in the world and everything we do has that ambition in mind,” says KC Current co-owner Angie Long. “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 accumulated a 51-5-9 record in the last four years with the National team and led them to the Concacaf W Championship in 2022, a Bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and four straight championships at the SheBelieves Cup between 2020 and 2023. He’s not taking a break between gigs, hoping to bring a similar momentum to KC Current.
“I’m getting into this job refreshed, driven, hungry, and motivated to create a club that will make a mark in women’s soccer—not just in this country, but internationally as well,” says Andonovski.
Andonovski played professional indoor soccer for six seasons in his home country of North Macedonia before coming to KC in 2000, playing with the Wichita Wings and the Kansas City Comets. He would later coach the Comets to a Major Indoor Soccer League title in 2014 and an undefeated season in 2015.
He got his break back in 2013 when he was appointed the first head coach of FC Kansas City, and has since made a name for himself as one of the best coaches in women’s soccer with an overall record of 78-50-52. He coached FC Kansas City for five seasons before heading to Seattle to coach Reign FC in 2018 and 2019.
“It is special for several different reasons,” says Andonovski of his appointment. “First, coming back home, coming back to Kansas City, but even more important to me, 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 of where this team needs to go, and I’m excited and humbled by this opportunity to be part of an organization like this and I just can’t wait to get on the field and start building the team that will make the city proud.”
Andonovski is one of just five to have coached more than 150 games, one of two coaches to have multiple NWSL Championship titles, and the only coach to have been awarded NWSL Coach of the Year with two different clubs—an honor he won in both 2013 and 2019. He has the third most playoff games coached and the second-highest playoff winning percentage in NWSL history.
“I had an opportunity to go to the stadium several times now but I still remember the first time,” says Andonovski. “I was at my last job, I took a tour of the stadium and it was so incredible. And I just remember thinking, there was a little bit of jealousy at that point because I didn’t know if I will ever end up here being part of KC Current but I was just thinking that I wish, at some point, I’m able to coach for this organization, coach at this stadium, with the supporters and people that I love, people that are supporting me, and bring successes to the city.”
This is a fantastic turnaround for the team after the dismissal of former head coach Matt Potter in the middle of the season last April. This exciting news also comes in the wake of the new stadium, which will be ready to go for the 2024 season and will make history as the first stadium built for a women’s soccer team.
