“Nobody Likes Change”: Megan Rapinoe on Vlatko Andonovski Before Emma Hayes’s Appointment as USWNT Coach

The job of a US Women’s National Team coach is not everyone’s cup of tea. One has to remain at the top of their game to manage the four-time World Cup champions. This was evident in the Netflix documentary “Under Pressure,” as Megan Rapinoe spoke about adjusting to changes in 2019 when Vlatko Andonovski took over the reins from Jill Ellis.

Despite boasting a 51-9-5 record in the 4+ years under Andonovski, the team was unable to win the Olympic Gold or get a podium in the recently concluded World Cup. The team will now play under their new coach Emma Hayes as they prepare for the 2027 World Cup. They also prepare for the new era as they play their next match without the now-retired Megan Rapinoe.

Megan Rapinoe comments on the appointment of Vlatko Andonovski

After the 2019 World Cup glory, Jill Ellis decided to step down as the coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team. The federation quickly secured the services of a coach familiar with the country’s women’s soccer. They brought in former OL Reign manager Vlatko Andonovski. In the Netflix documentary, Megan Rapinoe talked about the appointment, saying, “It’s not always easy, especially after coaching change. Whether you liked the previous coach or not, you knew what the sessions and the vibes would be like, now it’s all different. It’s like, ‘what’s different,’ and ‘why different.’ Nobody likes change.”

During his stay as the coach, Andonovski did well as the team won the She Believes Cup four times in a row. They also won the 2022 CONCAFF Women’s Championship. The team also won the Olympic Bronze medal in 2020 under him. However, he unfortunately failed in the biggest assignment. It was the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The team was criticized for their performance. In the end,

they were knocked out by Sweden on penalties in the Round of 16 in what was their lowest-ever finish in a World Cup.

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The fans of the US Women’s team hope that they can improve their performances under the new appointment of Emma Hayes. However, the Chelsea coach will also have a big challenge.

Emma Hayes will have to make improvements instantly as they prepare for the 2027 World Cup

The US Federation has announced that Emma Hayes will join as the new coach after her contract with Chelsea expires. She will be the highest-paid coach in the world as the US follows the equal pay policy. But, as soon as she joins, she will have an important responsibility. She will have to bring back the lost confidence of the team after their poor performance in the 2022 World Cup.

The second problem to solve would be to replace Megan Rapinoe. She was a very important part of the dressing room despite her problems with injuries. Her experience was very important for the young players who have joined the national team in the past decade. However, Hayes has massive experience with these situations. In her 11 year stay, she managed to win 15 trophies with Chelsea.

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This speaks about the capability and the level of experience the federation is bringing for the 2027 FIFA World Cup. Will Emma Hayes succeed as the coach of the national team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.