Former USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski returns to NWSL with Kansas City Current

Former U.S. women's coach Vlatko Andonovski has a new gig. Similar to one of his old gigs.

The Kansas City Current announced Andonovski as their new coach and sporting director Monday. The move had been expected since Andonovski and U.S. Soccer parted ways after the World Cup, where the USWNT made its earliest exit ever at a major international tournament.

Andonovski began his coaching career in 2013 with FC Kansas City, the city's previous NWSL team, and led the team to NWSL titles in 2014 and 2015. He also was named the NWSL's coach of the year in 2013.

FC Kansas City ceased operations in November 2017, the same month Andonovski moved to Seattle to become coach of what is now the OL Reign. He was with the Reign for two years, winning coach of the year honors again in 2019, before being hired as the USWNT's head coach.

Though he got off to a strong start with the USWNT, winning his first 11 games in what was the best start ever by a U.S. women's coach, Andonovski struggled in the sport's signature tournaments. In addition to the USWNT's round-of-16 exit in Australia and New Zealand, the Americans were bronze medalists at the Tokyo Olympics, and the Americans looked lackluster in both tournaments.

When Andonovski's departure from the USWNT was announced in August, it was widely expected he'd land with the Current. He and his family had continued living in Kansas City, and the Current were looking for a big name as they move into a new stadium in 2024, the first ever to be built specifically for a women's team.