The Chicago Stars have moved quickly to address the turmoil surrounding their organization, announcing Thursday that Vlatko Andonovski will join the club as chief soccer officer. The appointment comes just 10 days after Andonovski's abrupt departure from the Kansas City Current, where his role as sporting director was deemed "not the right fit" in a brief statement from the club.
For the Stars, who finished at the bottom of the NWSL standings in both 2025 and this past season with only five wins, the hire represents a significant step toward stability after a turbulent stretch off the field. The club has cycled through leadership in recent years: general manager Richard Feuz, brought on in 2024, was dismissed earlier this year, and head coach Martin Sjögren, who Feuz had hired ahead of the 2026 campaign, was let go in August.
Andonovski arrives with one of the most decorated résumés in the women's game. Born in North Macedonia during the era of Yugoslavia, he relocated to the American Midwest in 2000 to play indoor soccer, spending several years with the Kansas City Comets before later coaching the same club. His transition into women's soccer proved transformative, as he led FC Kansas City to back-to-back NWSL championships in 2014 and 2015. That success, along with a strong run with Seattle's Reign FC, paved the way for his appointment as head coach of the United States women's national team in 2019.
His international tenure yielded mixed results. The USWNT captured bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but a disappointing round-of-16 exit at the 2023 World Cup ultimately led to his departure from the national team setup.
Andonovski's next chapter brought him back to Kansas City, this time with the Current, where he took on dual roles as head coach and sporting director. Under his guidance, the team produced one of the most dominant regular seasons in league history in 2025, winning 21 of 26 matches and claiming the NWSL Shield with a commanding 21-point cushion atop the table. Despite the historic regular-season form, the Current's playoff run ended in disappointment, falling to eighth-seeded Gotham FC in extra time during the quarterfinals.
Last November, Andonovski stepped back from coaching duties to focus solely on his sporting director responsibilities, handing the head coaching reins to Chris Armas. Without Andonovski patrolling the sideline and following the exit of several key contributors, Kansas City has struggled to replicate its prior success this season, currently sitting in seventh place — just two points above the playoff cutoff line.
Throughout his coaching career, Andonovski has earned widespread respect not only for his tactical acumen, evidenced by two NWSL Coach of the Year honors and two league championships, but also for his ability to foster trust among players and staff. That reputation carries particular weight in a league that has grappled with instances of coaching misconduct at the professional level.
Industry reports indicated that Andonovski was the most sought-after free agent available in the NWSL following his exit from Kansas City, with multiple clubs reportedly expressing interest in bringing him on board in either a sporting director or head coaching capacity, according to ESPN.
The timing of the hire also coincides with a period of transition for the Stars beyond the roster. The club has been playing home matches at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and will continue doing so through the 2027 season as it pursues plans for a new stadium in downtown Chicago. The franchise, purchased in 2023 by an ownership group led by Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts at a valuation of $35.5 million, will now lean on Andonovski's expertise as it attempts to rebuild both its on-field product and organizational foundation.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.