Kansas City
Vlatko Andonovski departs Kansas City Current
The Current’s short release noted that “Both parties determined Andonovski’s requested transition from coaching into the Sporting Director role at the end of last season was not the right fit.”
The Kansas City Current and Sporting Director Vlatko Andonovski have mutually agreed to part ways, the club announced Monday.
Andonovski had served as Sporting Director for the Current for less than a year, following two seasons as head coach. The former head coach of the United States Women’s National Team led the Current to a league-record 65 points and the NWSL Shield in 2025, following a fourth-place finish and semifinal appearance in 2024. He was succeeded as head coach by Chris Armas for the 2026 season.
The Current’s short release noted that “Both parties determined Andonovski’s requested transition from coaching into the Sporting Director role at the end of last season was not the right fit.”
This separation brings to an end Andonovski’s second stint with the NWSL in Kansas City. His decorated career saw him lead FC Kansas City to two consecutive NWSL titles in 2014 and 2015. He was named NWSL Coach of the Year twice, once in 2013 and in 2019 with FC Kansas City and then-OL Reign respectively. He was a finalist in 2025.
He also led the Missouri (now Kansas City) Comets to the 2014 MISL Championship and an undefeated regular season in their 2015 debut MASL campaign, while also coaching FC Kansas City.
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What the hell is going on over there. The Current Landing project seems to be humming along, but what about the actual on-field product?
Sure seems like the Longs are struggling to manage things properly. Been a whole series of baffling or backfiring decisions.
The ESPN article on this doesn’t really have any more info, but did drop this tidbit – evidently, Chris Armas was recommended by Jesse Marsch. Seems odd to fish for referrals from a men’s team national coach.
That has long been known. The Longs stated that as part of their justification for hiring Armas when he was announced. Marsch knew one or both of them in college and is a family friend.So they took a friend’s recommendation to hire a guy who had never coached women professionally over the MANY candidates around the world that could have coached the team. And while Vlatko has never said anything bad about Armas, his did not vote to hire him.