KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Current will embark on a search for a head coach as current coach Vlatko Andonovski shifts focus to his role as sporting director for the National Women's Soccer League club.
Andonovski, who has served in both roles for the team, will continue as coach until a successor is named, the Current announced Friday.
The Current also said that Ryan Dell, the head of soccer operations, has been promoted to general manager. The moves were part of a “long-planned” staffing model with separate individuals holding those three key positions.
“To continue the club’s upward and global trajectory, we must put in place an organizational structure that reflects the growth of what we’re doing within the KC Current ecosystem and beyond," Current co-owners Angie and Chris Long said in a statement. "These changes will allow us to further carry out our mission of staying at the forefront of women’s soccer globally.”
This past season, Andonovski's second as coach, the Current set NWSL regular-season records for points (65), wins (21), home wins (11), road wins (10), shutouts (16) and fewest goals conceded (13).
Gotham FC eliminated Kansas City from the NWSL playoffs last weekend with a 2-1 quarterfinal victory.
“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," Andonovski said. “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.”
Andonovski served as the coach of the U.S. women's national team for four years from 2019-23.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - FC Kansas City head coach Vlatko Andonovski watches from the sideline before the NWSL soccer championship match in Portland, Ore. on Oct. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File)
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Sepp Straka made three birdies and two eagles on the par 5s for an 8-under 64 and seized on some late misses by Scottie Scheffler to take a one-shot lead Saturday going into the final round of the Hero World Challenge.
Straka chipped in for eagle on the par-5 sixth and played great golf just to keep pace with Scheffler, who had five straight 3s on his scorecard to start the third round and was 9 under for his round through 15 holes.
Scheffler, going for a third straight win at Albany Golf Club, has stumbled over the final three holes every day this week — a double bogey on the 16th on Thursday, a bogey on the 16th on Friday, and then a bogey-par-bogey finish.
He still had a 65 and will be in the final group with Straka on Sunday.
Straka seized on the par 5s. Along with his chip-in on the sixth hole, he holed an 18-foot eagle putt on the downwind, par-5 15th. He also hit a 3-wood that landed perfectly in front of the green at the par-5 ninth that rolled out to 15 feet for a two-putt birdie.
He trailed Scheffler by three shots through five holes, and by two shots with four holes left. But Straka was bogey-free on the day and finished at 18-under 198.
“He definitely got it going quick,” Straka said of the world's No. 1 player. “It didn’t look like he was going to miss a putt there for a little bit. But it’s golf, it usually evens out a lot and I just tried to focus on my own game.”
The only par 4 that Straka birdied was No. 7, where the tee was moved back. That kept players from trying to drive the green and instead tested them with a wedge to a dangerous back-left pin. Straka took it on and hit it to 7 feet.
Scheffler, who went left of the 16th fairway the opening two rounds — one of those leading to a penalty drop from a bush — this time found the short grass and it wasn't much better. He had an awkward stance, tugged it left into a bunker and the ball buried in the sand, leading to bogey.
He also dropped a shot on the 18th by missing the green to the right — water is left — leaving a tricky pitch up the slope.
“A few unfortunate breaks, but overall did some really good stuff,” Scheffler said.
Alex Noren (67) and Hideki Matsuyama (68) were three shots behind Straka, while J.J. Spaun and Wyndham Clark each shot 69 and were four behind.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, studies his putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at Albany Golf Club in New Providence, Bahamas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, reacts to making a birdie on the fourth hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, Bahamas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, reacts after the third round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, Bahamas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Sepp Straka, of Austria, reacts after his putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at Albany Golf Club in New Providence, Bahamas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Sepp Straka, of Austria, watches his hit from the sand on the 6th hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, Bahamas, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
