The Chicago Stars have appointed Vlatko Andonovski as their new Chief Soccer Officer. The club made the hire public on September 17, soon after Andonovski’s departure from Kansas City Current earlier this month. The move places a high-profile coach and two-time NWSL champion into charge of the Stars’ sporting project ahead of the next season.
Why the appointment matters now
The timing gives the Stars a clear sporting leader as the NWSL prepares for another competitive cycle. The club’s front office has faced criticism for inconsistent results, and the new role centralises decision-making over coaching, recruitment and player development. Andonovski arrives with recent experience at both club and international level, and the club’s hierarchy framed the hiring as an effort to stabilise long-term strategy rather than a short-term fix.
What the role will cover
As Chief Soccer Officer, Andonovski will oversee the technical side of the organisation. That includes shaping the first-team coaching profile, coordinating scouting and transfers, and setting the pathway for youth and reserve players into the senior squad. The club has combined the traditional director-of-football remit with immediate accountability for on-field performance, signalling an expectation that sporting and recruitment choices follow a unified plan.
Immediate priorities for the sporting department
- Stabilise coaching: The new chief will assess the current coaching staff and either confirm or replace positions to align with a clear playing identity.
- Recruitment audit: Scouting and recruitment processes will be reviewed to prioritise signings that fit the club’s tactical and cultural profile.
- Player pathways: Development plans for academy and fringe players will be established to reduce reliance on short-term transfers.
- Performance structures: Sports science, analytics and medical cooperation will be integrated under a single sporting plan to support player availability and progression.
How Andonovski’s record shapes expectations
Vlatko Andonovski brings a résumé that includes two NWSL titles and an NWSL Coach of the Year award, plus the experience of leading a national team. That background sets a high bar for results and recruitment. The Stars’ board has signalled a desire to translate his experience winning at club level into a rebuild that can compete consistently in the league standings. The immediate expectation is not simply headline signings but clearer structures that prevent season-to-season volatility.
Short-term footballing consequences
The appointment changes the balance of power within the club’s hierarchy. Sporting decisions that previously travelled through several executive layers will now flow from the Chief Soccer Officer. That should speed up windows for signings and give the head coach—if retained—a clearer brief. For the squad, this usually means a period of evaluation and role clarification; some players will find themselves central to a renewed plan, others likely to be moved on to fund changes.
Context and next steps
Andonovski’s arrival follows his departure from Kansas City Current earlier in September. The Stars will now begin a period of consultation with coaches and staff to finalise the scope of his remit and to set immediate transfer priorities. The club’s president, Karen Leetzow, introduced Andonovski at a media event the same day the appointment was announced, framing the hire as the start of a longer-term sporting reset rather than a single-season overhaul.
