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3 Vlatko Andonovski replacements at head coach for the USWNT

By Caden Charpentier

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 31: Head coach Vlatko Andonovski of the United States during a team training session on July 31, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Robin Alam/USSF/Getty Images)
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 31: Head coach Vlatko Andonovski of the United States during a team training session on July 31, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Robin Alam/USSF/Getty Images) /
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Nigeria’s coach Randy Waldrum gestures on the touchline during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup Group B football match between Australia and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane on July 27, 2023. (Photo by Patrick Hamilton / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)
Nigeria’s coach Randy Waldrum gestures on the touchline during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup Group B football match between Australia and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane on July 27, 2023. (Photo by Patrick Hamilton / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images) /

After incredible success at FC Kansas City and Reign FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, Vlatko Andonovski has not been able to translate that to the international stage with the USWNT in the most important of tournaments.

3 wins. That is how many Vlatko Andonovski managed to amass in the USWNT’s last World Cup and Olympics combined not counting the Olympic third-place match. For a team that has never finished worse than third at a World Cup, that is not going to get the job done. Success has been documented outside of the two most prestigious tournaments in women’s football, but that is not the aim of a team like this.

Following a ninth-place finish at the World Cup this summer, the USWNT will more than likely let go of a coach that has been at the helm since October 2019. Similar to a college coach heading into the NBA, Andonovski, while no doubt intelligent has not pushed the right buttons at the highest of stages. U.S. Soccer explained after the elimination it was going to take its time to decide what kind of change are going to be made to improve the future of the program.

Many critics want to blame the players for a disappointing end to the 2023 World Cup campaign, but it was clear in the Sweden game, these talented individuals were not put in the right position to succeed. Here are three potential coaching hires the USWNT could make with the departure of Andonovski almost a guarantee.

Vlatko Andonovski replacements for the USWNT: 3. Randy Waldrum

Current role: Nigeria WNT/University of Pittsburgh head coach

The last time the USWNT had an American-born head coach was shockingly in 2007 when Greg Ryan held the job. From his experience in the NWSL, on the international stage with two different nations, and his work in the colligate game in the United States, Randy Waldrum certainly has the resume to earn the top spot with the United States. Though he has expressed interest in staying with Nigeria following its historic run to the Round of 16, it would be tough to say no to a job with the U.S.

Waldrum currently coaches both the Nigeria WNT and the Pittsburgh Panthers, leading the ACC outfit to the last 16 of the NCAA Division I tournament. He led the Super Falcons into the knockouts for the third time in their history, taking down co-hosts Australia in addition to providing the defending European champions with a scare through 120 minutes of knockout football. Due to his familiarity with players in the NWSL, the college system in the United States, and a record of recent success internationally, Waldrum seems like an individual that could work.

He is known as an intelligent man when it comes to his creativity, and tactical set-up who proved what he can do with a side far less talented than the United States. Sure, the Emma Hayes-type coach is nice to dream about. On the other hand, with a team that receives an immense amount of investment, Waldrum could very well rally this team following extreme disappointment this summer.

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