July 12: Houston Dash midfielder Linda Ullmark (30) attempts a shot as Denver Summit FC defender Kaleigh Kurtz (3) defends during the second half at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The game ended in a 2-2 tie.
Chicago Stars FC has hired Vlatko Andonovski as the club’s chief soccer officer, a major statement of intent for the struggling NWSL team.
Andonovski only departed as the Kansas City Current’s sporting director earlier this month, but the former U.S. women’s national team coach was not out of work long.
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He will take on a huge challenge in the form of the Stars, who appear poised to finish at the bottom of the league for the second straight season. It’s been a miserable campaign for Chicago, which has just five wins in 24 games and a league-worst -40 goal differential. The second-worst team, Racing Louisville, is at -12.
“Joining the Chicago Stars was an easy decision after the conversations I had with ownership and leadership,” Andonovski said in a club release.
“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.”
Andonovski has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in NWSL history, winning back-to-back league championships in 2014 and 2015 with FC Kansas City. His tenure with the Seattle Reign in 2018 and 2019 helped earn him the chance to coach the USWNT, which he did between 2019 and 2023.
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Though Andonovski couldn’t lead the U.S. to glory at the Olympics in 2021 or the World Cup in 2023, his reputation as an elite NWSL coach has remained intact.
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
July 12: Houston Dash midfielder Linda Ullmark (30) attempts a shot as Denver Summit FC defender Kaleigh Kurtz (3) defends during the second half at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The game ended in a 2-2 tie.
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
July 12: Houston Dash midfielder Linda Ullmark (30) attempts a shot as Denver Summit FC defender Kaleigh Kurtz (3) defends during the second half at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The game ended in a 2-2 tie.
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
July 4: North Carolina Courage midfielder Ashley Sanchez (2) shoots the ball past Seattle Reign FC goalkeeper Cassie Miller (38) during the second half at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. North Carolina won the game, 3-1.
(William Howard, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
July 3: Kansas City Current midfielder Michelle Cooper (17) and Denver Summit FC defender Natalie Means (4) battle for the ball during the second half at Centennial Stadium. The KC Current won the game, 3-0.
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
May 23: Houston Dash defender Leah Klenke (4) attempts to leap over Angel City FC midfielder Kennedy Fuller (17) during the first half at Shell Energy Stadium. The Houston Dash won the game, 2-1.
(Maria Lysaker, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
May 15: Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji (front) competes with Boston Legacy FC defender Bianca St-Georges during the first half at PayPal Park. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.
(Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
May 9: Houston Dash forward Kate Faasse (left) controls the ball against the Denver Summit FC at Shell Energy Stadium. The Denver Summit won the game, 4-1.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
May 9: Boston Legacy FC goalkeeper Casey Murphy (1) plays the ball against Gotham FC during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
May 3: Portland Thorns FC midfielder Cassandra Bogere (6) defends Chicago Stars FC midfielder Manaka Hayashi (16) during the first half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. The Portland Thorns won the game, 2-0.
(David Banks, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
May 2: North Caroilna Courage goalie Kailen Sheridan (1) clears the ball off a corner kick during the second half against the KC Current at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. KC Current won the game, 2-1.
(William Howard, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
April 25: The Houston Dash’s Colaprico (24) and North Carolina Courage’s Evelyn Ijeh (10) battle for the ball during the first half at Shell Energy Stadium. The North Carolina Courage won the game, 1-0.
(Maria Lysaker, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
April 25: Boston Legacy FC’s Josefine Hasbo (5) defends against Chicago Stars FC’s Jordyn Huitema during the first half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. The Chicago Stars won the game, 2-0.
(David Banks, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
April 24: Kansas City Current goalkeeper Lorena (23) drops a corner kick allowing the Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman to score a goal during the first half at Audi Field. The Washington Spirit won the game, 4-0.
(Jamie Sabau, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
April 5: Washington Spirit defender Tara Rudd (9) heads the ball against Bay FC during the second half at PayPal Park. The Washington Spirit won the game, 2-0.
(John Hefti, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 25: Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger makes a save on a shot by Denver Summit FC’s Melissa Kossler during the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The Denver Summit won the game, 2-0.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 25: The Washington Spirit’s Esme Morgan (24) heads the ball against the Utah Royals at Audi Field. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
(Jamie Sabau, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 22: San Diego Wave FC’s Laurina Fazer (left) and the Utah Royals’ Cece Delzer battle for possession during the first half at America First Field. The San Diego Wave won the game, 2-1.
(Aaron Baker, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 21: The North Carolina Courage’s Riley Jackson (right) fights for the ball against Gotham FC’s Esther González (9) and Jessica Carter (27) during the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.
(Mark Smith, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 21: Houston Dash midfielder Kiki Van Zanten (12) controls the ball as Boston Legacy FC defender Jorelyn Carabalí (16) defends during the first half at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston won the game, 3-0.
(Maria Lysaker, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 14: North Carolina Courage fans hold yellow and red cards during second half against the Racing Louisville FC at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. North Carolina won the match, 2-1.
(Jaylynn Nash, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 14: A Volaris airplane flies over the stadium during the Bay FC vs. Denver Summit FC game at PayPal Park in San Jose, California. Bay FC won the match, 2-1, in what was the first-ever game for the Denver Summit.
(David Gonzales, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 14: Utah Royals midfielder Janni Thomsen (7) dribbles up field against the Kansas City Current during the second half at CPKC Stadium. Kansas City won the match, 2-1.
(Peter Aiken, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 14: Boston Legacy FC midfielder Alba Caño (26) and NY/NJ Gotham FC midfielder Jaedyn Shaw (10) battle for the ball during the first half of the game at Gillette Stadium. Gotham FC won the match – the first in Boston Legacy FC history – 1-0.
(Natalie Reid, Imagn Images)
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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season
March 13: The Washington Spirit get ready for a corner kick during the second half against the Portland Thorns at Audi Field. Portland won the NWSL 2026 season opener, 1-0.
(Jordyn Harris, Imagn Images)
That continued in Kansas City, where he led the Current to a 65-point season in 2025, smashing the record for most points in a single season and also setting marks for wins and fewest goals conceded.
But Andonovski moved into a role as sporting director prior to the 2026 season, which the Current admitted “was not the right fit” in a press release announcing his departure.
For Stars president Karen Leetzow, however, having Andonovski in a similar role in Chicago is a no-brainer.
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“As we’ve navigated our club’s challenges, ownership and executive leadership has been steadfast in their understanding that any future head of our sporting initiatives must be a proven winner with a thorough understanding of this league, it’s mechanisms and standards, and what it takes to be a serious contender for titles,” Leetzow said.
“Vlatko brings demonstrated experience in each of those areas, and we’re looking forward to his impact as we continue to build, expand our sporting structure, and bring this club up to the level of our ambitions.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski named Chicago Stars chief soccer officer
