NWSL table-toppers Kansas City Current announce major management change | OneFootball

Kansas City Current with the NWSL Shield (KC Current/NWSL)

Kansas City Current have announced that head coach Vlatko Andonovski will move into a new role as the club’s global sporting director.

The Current broke multiple records en route to winning the NWSL Shield. However, they were knocked out of the play-offs for the NWSL Championship at the quarter-final stage at the hands of Gotham FC.

In a statement released to press, the club said that as sporting director, Andonovski will work with a new head coach and newly-appointed head of player development “to implement the long-term vision for the club’s technical and athletic success, as well as be responsible for player recruitment, roster strategy and scouting.”

Vlatko Andonovski, who has served as head coach and sporting director since October 2023, will transition into a new role as the club’s global sporting director. In addition, Ryan Dell has been promoted to general manager after joining the organization as the head of soccer operations in December 2024.

Co-owners Angie and Chris Long commented, “To continue the club’s upward and global trajectory, we must put in place an organisational structure that reflects the growth of what we’re doing within the KC Current ecosystem and beyond. These changes will allow us to further carry out our mission of staying at the forefront of women’s soccer globally.”

Vlatko Andonovski: Kansas City is home

In his second year as head coach, Andonovski led the Current to the Shield with five games of the season left, and set NWSL regular season records for points (65), wins (21), home wins (11), road wins (10), clean sheets (16), consecutive shutouts minutes (869), consecutive shutouts (9), shutouts at home (8), multi-goal wins (15), multi-goal games (18), fewest minutes trailing (109) and fewest goals conceded (13). Kansas City also became the sixth team in league history to finish the regular season undefeated at home.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Vlatko’s stature and experience step into this critical role and lead the technical side of our organization as we grow our platform and global footprint,” said the Longs. “These conversations started before we hired Vlatko and have been part of the bigger picture ever since. From youth development to the first team, his long-term vision for the club will help us continue the relentless momentum the organization has displayed since day one.”

“Kansas City is, and always will be, home,” said Andonovski. “It’s vital to move into this role to keep growing this club with the aim of being a perennial contender on the global stage and a top developer of talent. From world-class soccer to the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s team to the best fans in the country, I am proud of what has been built here in the city that means so much to me. The potential is limitless for this club, the foundation for further success has been laid and the best is yet to come.”