continues Kate Markgraf, USWNT General Manager Head coach Vlatko Andonovsky walks out the door.
A day after Andonovsky officially parted ways with the US women’s national soccer team after a disappointing World Cup run that ended in Round of 16US Soccer announced Markgraf’s departure.
Markgraf said statement. “I am proud of the institution we have built, and even prouder of the character and commitment our players have shown as they represent the United States on and off the field.”
Markgraf, a three-time Olympic medalist who played for the USWNT from 1998-2010, was named the first general manager and head of women’s soccer in August 2019. According to US Soccer, the position was created to work alongside the head coach to manage and implement the team’s tactical plans. .
USWNT: Vlatko Andonovski came out as coach after the failure of the World Cup
Matt Crocker said in the statement.
Markgraf has won Olympic gold with the USWNT twice (2004, 2008), as well as an Olympic silver medal in 2000. She was a 1999 World Cup champion and was on the USWNT’s third-place teams in 2003 and 2007.
and made the two-time defending World Cup champions the United States Women Closest exit ever to a World Cup or Olympic Games with a loss to Sweden In the Round of 16 In the tournament hosted by Australia and New Zealand. It was the first time the Americans had failed to reach the semi-finals at a World Cup, and only the second time they had left a major international tournament without a medal of some color.
Andonovsky announced his resignation on Thursday. Assistant Twyla Kilgore will take over as interim head coach.
“It has been the honor of my life coaching the talented, hard-working players in the USWNT for the past four years,” Andonovsky said in a statement. “I am very optimistic about the future of this program, especially considering all the young players who have been given opportunities over the past few years who will undoubtedly be leaders and influence players going forward.”
Contributing: Nancy Armor
This article originally appeared in the USA TODAY: Kate Markgraf is parting ways with the USWNT, American football after the World Cup exit