Vlatko Andonovski hoped to fill a different role for the Kansas City Current this year, moving from manager to sporting director of the NWSL club, but he and the club parted ways less than a year into the experiment.
The former U.S. women's national team manager and the Current announced Monday, Sept. 7 that they have "mutually parted ways."
"Both parties determined that Andonovski’s requested transition from coaching into the Sporting Director role at the end of last season was not the right fit," a club statement read. "Andonovski joined the KC Current’s technical staff as head coach for the 2024 season and then sought the move to Sporting Director in November 2025."
With Andonovski moving into the front office, Chris Armas was appointed as the head
coach. That move also hasn't worked out for the Current. The club sits 7th in the 16-team league. Eight teams qualify for the postseason.
Armas had to manage much of the summer without Temwa Chaŵinga, with the 2025 MVP pushing Malawi to a 2027 Women's World Cup berth at the Women's African Cup of Nations. She recently returned to the field for the Current after being away for the tournament that ran from July 26 to August 16.
The Current has enjoyed a recent uptick in fortunes, beating Bay FC 2-1 this weekend to extend an unbeaten run to three matches.
It falls well short of the standard Andonovski set as manager, however. The 49-year-old led the Current to a 65-point season, smashing the record for most points in a single season and also setting marks for wins and fewest goals conceded. The Current were upset by Gotham FC in the first round of the playoffs and had to settle for just the NWSL Shield.
Andonovski coached the U.S. women's national team between 2019 and 2023, winning the 2022 Concacaf Women's Championship but reaching only the round of 16 in the 2023 Women's World Cup, the Americans' worst-ever finish at the competition.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski out as Kansas City Current sporting director
