Manchester United Women have moved swiftly to fill their vacant managerial post, confirming the appointment of Eva Olid as head coach on an initial two-year contract, with the club holding an option to extend for a further season. The announcement comes just days after Marc Skinner left the role by mutual agreement, bringing an end to his five-year spell in charge.
Olid joins United on the back of a landmark achievement north of the border, having guided Heart of Midlothian to their first-ever Scottish Women's Premier League title in May. That success has been widely regarded as a defining moment in her coaching career and played a significant part in convincing United's hierarchy that she was the right fit to lead the club into its next chapter.
Speaking after her appointment was confirmed, the Spanish coach described the move as the realisation of a long-held ambition. "The opportunity to become head coach of Manchester United Women is a dream come true," Olid said. "The club has outstanding infrastructure and everything we need to achieve our ambitions. We have an excellent training facility, an academy that is already producing players capable of performing in a competitive first team and an exceptional group of support staff."
Olid also pointed to the quality already present within the United squad as a major draw, stressing her desire to help players reach their ceiling. "There is already so much talent within our squad and I am excited to work with the players to support them to fulfil their immense potential," she added. "I am joining Manchester United at a really exciting time. There is a clear alignment in our shared vision for long-term success. I cannot wait to begin preparing a team that will make our incredible supporters proud."
The club framed the appointment as the beginning of a fresh chapter, describing it as the "start of an exciting new era" that fits with United's broader ambitions for sustainable, long-term growth in the women's game. Under Skinner, the Red Devils had finished fourth in the Women's Super League last season and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League — results the club credited with laying important groundwork for future progress, even as it decided a change in leadership was needed.
Matt Johnson, United's director of women's football, was effusive in his praise for the incoming coach, citing both her tactical acumen and her man-management skills. "Eva is an outstanding coach with an incredible determination to succeed," Johnson said. "Her remarkable achievements at Heart of Midlothian showcased her ability to maximise the potential of individual players whilst also implementing an exciting style of football. We are delighted that she will now bring those qualities to Manchester United. Eva is the perfect coach to lead us into an exciting new era."
Johnson went on to explain why Olid's coaching philosophy made her an attractive candidate for the club's long-term project, noting the emphasis United places on nurturing talent from within. "She shares our commitment to developing exciting homegrown and young players, a tradition deeply embedded in our club's history and culture, as well as improving established senior internationals, both of which form an integral part of our vision for long-term, sustainable success," he said.
Olid will not have long to settle into her new surroundings before facing her first competitive test. She is set to take charge of her debut match as United boss when the Women's Super League season kicks off against London City Lionesses on 4 September, a fixture that will offer an early glimpse of how her methods translate to Old Trafford's women's side.
Based on reporting from Independent (football).