Manchester United women appoint Eva Olid as new head coach
Olid takes charge at Manchester United
Manchester United Women have confirmed the appointment of Eva Olid as their new head coach. Olid has signed a two-year deal, which includes an option for an additional 12 months. She steps into the role following the departure of Marc Skinner, who left the club by mutual consent on Monday, approximately one month before the start of the Women’s Super League season.
Olid arrives at Manchester United after a successful period with Hearts, where she led the team to their inaugural Scottish Women’s Premier League title last season. Her tenure at Hearts, which began in 2021, saw the club achieve significant milestones, including reaching their first domestic final, the 2024 Scottish Cup, where they were defeated by Rangers. She departed Hearts in the summer after her contract expired, having announced her intention to leave in April.
The new head coach expressed her enthusiasm for the role, stating that the opportunity to lead Manchester United Women is a dream come true. She highlighted the existing talent within the squad and her eagerness to work with the players to help them achieve their potential. Matt Johnson, United’s director of women’s football, described Olid as the ideal coach to guide the team into a new era, emphasizing her commitment to developing homegrown and young players.
Focus on player development
A key requirement for Skinner’s successor, according to sources at Manchester United, was a coach with a proven history of player development. Olid’s track record at Hearts aligns with this focus. During her five years in charge, she was instrumental in transforming the club, which had finished in 10th place when she arrived in 2021. Under her leadership, Hearts climbed the league table, securing back-to-back fourth-place finishes before winning the SWPL title.
Olid is credited with developing young talent, including the Husband twins, Erin and Jess, both of whom made their debuts under her at the age of 15. Other highly-rated Scotland youth internationals, such as Bayley Hutchison and Eilidh Shore, were also brought in by Olid from Aberdeen. This emphasis on nurturing young players is expected to be a significant aspect of her role at Manchester United.
The club’s ethos for the women’s team is reportedly shifting, with a renewed focus on the academy and developing players from within to compete for silverware. This approach is seen as a path to longer-term success, in contrast to what the club perceives as unsustainable high investment in the transfer market and a lack of return on investment from some star players and large wages. While the men’s academy has a history of producing trophy-winning players, this strategy is relatively untested in the women’s game.
Tactical approach and upcoming season
Olid’s tactical approach at Hearts was characterized by an attacking style, often employing a 3-4-3 formation, where the goalkeeper played a crucial role as a fourth defender. Hearts were the top scorers in the SWPL last season with 85 goals. They also demonstrated a balanced playing style, ranking second for build-up attacks and first for direct attacks, indicating their ability to both patiently construct plays and launch quick transitions. The team averaged 56.8% possession, suggesting they often controlled matches.
Despite their possession, Hearts were not slow, with only one team producing more shots from fast breaks. They created 71 big chances during the season, the third-highest total in the division, and their xG per shot of 0.116 also ranked third, indicating a consistent creation of high-quality scoring opportunities. Defensively, Hearts were organized, ranking fifth for high turnovers and conceding only 35 big chances across the campaign, the fourth-fewest in the league.
Olid’s appointment was swift following Skinner’s exit, with her contract signed within 24 hours. Her first task will be to prepare the squad for the upcoming season, which begins in four weeks. Manchester United are scheduled to start their WSL campaign against London City Lionesses on 4 September.
Skinner, whom Olid replaces, led Manchester United to four finals during his five years at the club, including three FA Cup finals and one League Cup final. He secured their first major trophy in the 2023/24 season and also guided the team to their first appearance in European competition, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season. The club’s first WSL match under Olid is against London City Lionesses on 4 September.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Isla Hartley is a Sports Reporter at NewsUK. She covered the British summer of sport from Wimbledon to the Test grounds. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sports Studies from the University of Stirling and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Glasgow, she runs half-marathons and follows Scottish athletics. “The overlooked athlete usually has the better story.”
