Manchester United are poised to confirm former Hearts head coach Eva Olid as the new manager of their Women's Super League (WSL) side, with the appointment expected to be finalised in the coming days.
According to BBC Sport, the 40-year-old Spanish coach is scheduled to meet with the United squad on Wednesday as the club works through the final details of her arrival. The move comes just a month before the start of the new WSL campaign, leaving Olid limited time to prepare her new team for the season ahead.
United have been searching for a new head coach since Marc Skinner departed the role by mutual consent on Monday. His exit, coming so close to the start of the season, has put pressure on the club to move quickly in securing a replacement, and Olid has emerged as their choice to lead the team into the new campaign.
Olid arrives at Old Trafford with a strong reputation built during her time at Hearts, where she took charge in 2021. She oversaw a steady rise in the Edinburgh club's fortunes, guiding them to back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) before a dip to fifth place in the 2024-25 season.
Despite that slight regression in league position, Olid ended her spell at Hearts on a historic high. She led the club to their first-ever Scottish Cup final in 2024, though they were ultimately beaten by rivals Rangers. The following season, she guided Hearts to their first league title in the club's history, finishing two points ahead of Rangers to clinch the SWPL crown.
Her achievements at Hearts had earned her significant credit, and the club had shown faith in her long-term project by extending her contract until the summer of 2026, with an option for a further year. However, in April, Hearts announced that Olid would be leaving the club at the end of the season by mutual agreement, paving the way for her to pursue a new challenge elsewhere.
That opportunity has now materialised at Manchester United, one of the WSL's most high-profile clubs, who will be hoping Olid can bring the same upward trajectory and eventual silverware that she delivered north of the border.
The timing of the switch means Olid will have precious little time to implement her ideas before the WSL season begins, but her experience of building a title-winning squad at Hearts will likely be seen as valuable preparation for the demands of English football's top flight.
United's decision to move for Olid so swiftly after Skinner's departure suggests the club were already tracking her progress and eager to avoid a prolonged vacancy in the role. Her first meeting with the Old Trafford squad on Wednesday will mark the beginning of a new era for the team as they look to build momentum heading into the new season.
Further details on Olid's contract length and coaching staff are expected to follow once the appointment is officially confirmed by the club.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.