Full Breakdown
Aston Villa Women Dismiss Manager Natalia Arroyo After Winless Start
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
Natalia Arroyo, a former Barcelona and Espanyol player who spent time as a journalist, was appointed head coach of Aston Villa Women in January 2025. She signed a three-and-a-half-year contract after guiding Real Sociedad Femenino to a second-place finish in the 2021-22 season and a Copa de la Reina final in her final campaign there. In her first full season with Villa, the team finished ninth in the Women’s Super League (WSL) with 20 points from 22 games.
Core Event
On Monday night, Aston Villa announced that it had terminated Arroyo’s contract following a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur Women on Sunday. The loss left Villa winless after four league matches – two draws (Chelsea, Brighton) and two defeats (Manchester City, Tottenham) – and positioned the club in 13th place with just two points, level with Brighton and Birmingham. The sacking marks the first managerial departure of the 2026-27 WSL season.
Data & Statistics
- League record: 0 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses; 2 points; 13th of 12 (second-bottom).
- Recent results: 4-0 loss to Tottenham; 1-1 draw with Chelsea; 1-1 draw with Brighton; 4-1 loss to Manchester City.
- Previous season (2025-26): 9th place, 20 points from 22 games.
- Contract status: Arroyo had two years remaining on her three-and-a-half-year deal at the time of dismissal.
Official Statements & Responses
The statement also confirmed that women’s technical adviser Brian Sørensen would assume interim charge of first-team affairs. Sørensen, who joined Villa as technical adviser in March after leaving Everton, is set to lead the side in the upcoming Subway Players Cup match against Newcastle United Women at Keys Park on Wednesday.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I'm really proud of the group,” — Arroyo. Martin
- “You want to make sure that, as a team, you keep clean sheets and we don't allow Lize [Kop] to do too much work,” — Arroyo. Martin
What’s Next
Brian Sørensen’s interim tenure begins with the Subway Players Cup tie versus Newcastle United Women on Wednesday. Villa’s next league fixture is scheduled for Sunday against Crystal Palace. The club has not yet announced a permanent replacement for Arroyo.
