Manchester United Women Appoint Eva Olid as Head Coach

Manchester United announced that former Hearts manager Eva Olid will be introduced to the women’s squad on Wednesday, finalising her appointment after Marc Skinner left the role by mutual consent on Monday, a month before the start of the Women's Super League (WSL) season. The club confirmed the 40-year-old Spaniard’s appointment as head coach.

The Guardian

Olid guided Hearts to their first Scottish Women’s Premier League title in the 2023-24 campaign, securing the trophy on the final day of the season. She also led the Edinburgh side to the 2024 Scottish Cup final, where they were defeated by Rangers. During her five-year tenure, Hearts finished fourth in consecutive seasons before slipping to fifth in 2024-25. Prior to her time in Scotland, Olid coached the Houston Dynamo women’s team and the club’s under-19 men’s squad, and later worked with the Catalan Football Association.

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United officials indicated that the appointment aligns with a strategic shift toward developing young, home-grown talent and reducing reliance on high-cost transfers across the WSL. Reports suggest Skinner’s departure was partly driven by frustration with United’s transfer strategy, which the club deemed financially unsustainable. The organization emphasized that extensive background checks on Olid were completed before publicly announcing Skinner’s exit, reflecting a pre-planned succession process.

The Guardian

Captain Maya Le Tissier said the squad will “stick together” and remain ready for the upcoming season despite the coaching change. England teammate Ella Toone paid tribute to Skinner, noting his hard work and passion. Both players stressed the club’s historic focus on youth development and collective resilience as they prepare for the season opener away to London City Lionesses on 4 September.

The Guardian

• “He wanted to tell the team before it came out. It was nice that he was able to tell us [and] he was able to say goodbye, because he’s done a lot for the club. We can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done, the hard work and the passion that he’s put into leading this team.” — Le Tissier — Maya Le Tissier, Manchester United captain.

The Guardian