Chicago Stars FC has made a bold bet on one of the most decorated coaches in women’s soccer history. Vlatko Andonovski, the former USWNT head coach and two-time NWSL champion, has joined the club as its first-ever Chief Soccer Officer. The hire comes just days after Andonovski left Kansas City Current, and it signals a clear statement from a franchise undergoing a major rebuild.
Andonovski arrives in Chicago with a resume that spans the league’s entire existence. He won two NWSL Championships with FC Kansas City, the Current’s predecessor, and added NWSL Coach of the Year honors in 2013 and 2019. He also guided the USWNT to an Olympic bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games, even as the team suffered a historic round-of-16 exit at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
His arrival is the club’s first-ever CSO role, and he will oversee all technical and sporting strategy. The move puts him at the center of a rebuild under new ownership led by Laura Ricketts.
The Arrival
Andonovski’s decision was not difficult to make, according to his own words. In a statement announcing the hire, he explained why he chose Chicago over other options.
“Joining the Chicago Stars was an easy decision after the conversations I had with ownership and leadership,” Andonovski said. “We had the opportunity to talk in depth about the direction of this club, their vision, and values. Everything I heard aligns with the way I believe the game should be played and what the club needs to be successful. One of the things that excites me the most about this club is there is so much opportunity, and I can’t wait to be around the staff and players and start pushing forward.”
The timing could not be better for the club. Chicago Stars FC was eliminated from NWSL playoff contention earlier this month, and the team is in year three of new ownership. The franchise has struggled through two consecutive last-place seasons, and the roster has been reshaped significantly.
Rick Feuz, the former general manager, was let go in May. Midseason, the club parted ways with former head coach Martin Sjogren and first assistant Anders Jacobson. The search for replacements continues, with the GM role and head coaching position both open.
A Career Built on Wins
Andonovski’s journey through women’s soccer began in Kansas City, where he first coached the Kansas City Comets in the early 2000s. He then took over FC Kansas City in 2013, leading the team to back-to-back NWSL Championships.
“Everything I heard aligns with the way I believe the game should be played and what the club needs to be successful.”
In 2018, Seattle Reign hired him as head coach after FC Kansas City folded and relocated to Utah. He led the team to two NWSL semifinal appearances in 2018 and 2019. His reputation grew to the point that he was named USWNT manager in 2019, shortly after Jill Ellis stepped down.
Under Andonovski’s tenure, the national team returned to the Olympic podium with a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 2023 World Cup was a different story. The team exited in the round of 16, a historic low for a side that had dominated international competition for years.
His NWSL pedigree remains unquestioned. Kansas City Current announced his dismissal as Sporting Director on Labor Day, offering 78 words of thanks without acknowledging his successes. The club’s own players quickly filled the gap, celebrating his time with the team on social media.
KC Current players had plenty to say about Vlatko Andonovski’s impact on the club, with one account posting images of players sharing messages of appreciation.
The Kansas City Years
Andonovski’s return to Kansas City was brief but memorable. He was given a dual title as head coach and sporting director, and he took the Current from a near last-place finish in 2023 to the 2024 NWSL playoffs.
The team built on that momentum in 2025, winning the inaugural NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup and the NWSL Shield. The Shield win was record-setting, with 21 wins and 65 points. Despite the league title, the squad was eliminated in the 2025 NWSL quarterfinals.
Andonovski moved solely to the sporting director role ahead of the 2026 season. That move cleared the path for his move to Chicago, where he will now lead all technical and sporting strategy.
From Kansas City to Chicago
The distance between the two cities is minimal. A 90-minute flight connects his adopted hometown to his new workplace. That proximity makes the lateral move practical, though the challenge is significant.
Chicago Stars FC is in year three of new ownership and still building toward a longer-term vision. The club approached a second consecutive last-place season, and the departures of Feuz, Sjogren, and Jacobson have created a vacuum in the front office.
The search for a new general manager and head coach remains ongoing. Club president Karen Leetzow spoke about the process on Thursday.
“I think we’re looking for that great coach and the support staff that he needs, and the club’s going to support him in all the hires that he’s looking to make,” Leetzow said. “I think the stability part has really been the biggest challenge for me in making sure that we had something to build on. If you don’t have a great foundation, you can’t build anything. So Vlatko has the freedom to make the choices he needs to make in terms of those positions, and I’m going to support him in every way I can.”
Leetzow’s commitment to stability is notable. She acknowledged that the club’s recent history has lacked a solid foundation, and she promised full support for Andonovski’s hiring decisions.
Defining the Identity
One of Andonovski’s first tasks will be defining what Chicago Stars FC stands for. He has already spoken about the importance of creating an identity that fans can recognize.
“So the first thing is, we have to define what Chicago Stars are going to be identified by. So we have to create an identity. We want to create a team that when fans come and watch us play, they know that these are the stars. It doesn’t matter if we’re missing a player or two; that these are the stars,” Andonovski said.
The club has been trying to shake off its demons for years. Once a perennial playoff contender, it operated under duress and shoestring budgets under former owner Arnim Whisler. The team also dealt with a former head coach who is now banned from coaching in the league.
Undoing a decade of front office disarray is a unique challenge, and one that cannot simply be rebranded. The move to land Andonovski feels like a real first step the club has been waiting for since new ownership arrived.
What Comes Next
The immediate task is finding a head coach and general manager. Those hires will shape the team’s direction for the 2027 season. Andonovski’s vision will guide the search, but the final decisions rest with the club.
The club has shown a willingness to make changes, and Andonovski’s arrival signals a commitment to doing things the right way. His track record speaks for itself, and his ability to build winners across different levels of the game is well documented.
The road ahead is long, but the club has finally landed a coach with the credentials to lead the charge. Chicago Stars FC has made a statement, and the rest of the league will be watching.
Key Facts Box
- CSO Role: First-ever Chief Soccer Officer at Chicago Stars FC
- NWSL Titles: Two championships with FC Kansas City
- Coach of the Year: 2013 and 2019
- Shield Title: Won in 2025 with Kansas City Current
- USWNT Record: Returned to the Olympic podium with a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games
- World Cup Record: Round-of-16 exit at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
- Ownership: Year three of new ownership led by Laura Ricketts
- Recent Departures: Rick Feuz (GM), Martin Sjogren (head coach), Anders Jacobson (first assistant)
The rebuild is underway, and Andonovski is the man tasked with steering it.
Source material: “Chicago Stars FC hire former USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski for front office role amid rebuild,” CBS Sports.
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