Manchester: Eva Olid appointed new Man Utd Women head coach
Olid takes charge
Manchester United Women have announced the appointment of Eva Olid as their new head coach. Olid joins the club after the departure of Marc Skinner, who left his role on Monday following five years in charge. Her appointment comes just weeks before the team’s WSL opener against London City Lionesses on September 4.
Olid’s role will involve preparing the squad for the upcoming season. She previously led Hearts to a historic first Scottish title last season before her departure in the summer. Her tenure at Hearts, which began in 2021, saw the club reach their first Scottish Cup final in 2024, where they were defeated by Rangers.
Despite the cup final loss, Hearts finished two points ahead of Rangers in the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) last term. Olid’s exit from Hearts was announced in April, with the departure being by mutual consent at the end of the season.
Club’s new direction
Manchester United views Olid as a suitable candidate to develop players within the current squad and those progressing through the academy. This aligns with a shift in the women’s team’s ethos since Ratcliffe and INEOS became involved, with an initial target to win the league by 2028.
The club’s current focus is on the academy and developing internal talent to compete for silverware. This approach is based on the belief that significant investment in the academy will lead to long-term success, rather than higher spending in the transfer market, which the club considers unsustainable.
Concerns have been raised by the club regarding the return on investment from star players and substantial wages, as well as the increasing costs associated with contending for the WSL title. While the men’s academy has a history of producing trophy-winning players, this strategy is relatively untested in the women’s game.
Skinner’s five-year tenure saw Manchester United Women reach four finals, including three in the FA Cup and one in the League Cup. The team secured their first major trophy in the 2023/24 season and participated in European competition for the first time, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season.
Skinner’s departure and team strategy
Skinner’s departure followed frustrations over the team’s strategic direction, particularly concerning investment in the summer. On a Monday, Ameesh Manek, the director of football operations, informed first-team players and staff about the club’s plan for a “sustainable long-term” investment model, emphasizing a return to developing academy players and playing “exciting” football.
During this meeting, it was stated that two more signings, a central defender and a left-winger, would arrive before the new season. However, some players reportedly questioned whether only two additional recruits would be sufficient to maintain competitiveness with the WSL’s top three, especially after finishing fourth last season and outside of Champions League qualification positions, nine points behind third-placed Chelsea.
Skinner’s relationship with the club had reportedly become strained. He had publicly advocated for greater backing for the women’s team, particularly after their Champions League quarter-final exit against Bayern Munich, which they lost 5-3 on aggregate. He highlighted the need for the club to grow to compete at higher levels.
According to reports, United’s budget for the summer is among the lower ones in the WSL, ranking between sixth and seventh. The team has made two signings this summer: reserve goalkeeper Janina Leitzig from Leicester City and Spain defender Andrea Medina on a free transfer. Meanwhile, five players have left, including France winger Melvine Malard, who moved to Chelsea after United did not meet her salary expectations.
The club’s current expenditure across the WSL is considered by United to be unsustainable, and the new direction is intended to support long-term success. However, concerns have been raised among some players and staff that United could fall behind their main WSL rivals. The team is set to begin their new campaign on September 4.
Source: skysports.com