Manchester United are preparing to name BBC as the head coach of their women’s team. The 40-year-old Spanish manager is expected to meet the squad on Wednesday as the club finalizes the appointment, according to reports from BBC Sport and the Guardian.
Manchester United Set to Appoint Eva Olid as Women’s Manager
The move follows the departure of Marc Skinner, who left the role on Monday by mutual consent. Skinner’s exit comes just one month before the start of the Women’s Super League (WSL) season, with United scheduled to open their campaign against London City Lionesses on 4 September.
Olid’s Coaching Record and Experience
Olid joins Manchester United after a tenure with Hearts, the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) club she joined in 2021. During her time in Edinburgh, Olid guided Hearts to their first league title last campaign, finishing two points ahead of Rangers. While the club finished fourth in back-to-back seasons under her leadership, they dropped to fifth in 2024-25.
In addition to the league title, Olid led Hearts to their first domestic final, though they were defeated by Rangers in the 2024 Scottish Cup. Although Olid had signed a contract extension with Hearts through the summer of 2026 with an option for an additional year, the club announced in April that she would leave at the end of the season by mutual agreement.
Beyond her time in Scotland, Olid’s professional background includes:
- Coaching in the United States with Houston Dynamo, where she worked with the women’s team and the under-19s men’s squad.
- A coaching spell with the Catalan Football Association.
Strategic Shift in Recruitment
The appointment of Olid aligns with a change in Manchester United’s recruitment strategy. The club is now targeting younger players and focusing on developing homegrown talent and improving its academy to achieve sustainable, long-term success. Club sources indicated that a history of developing players was a key requirement for Skinner’s replacement.
This shift in direction contributed to the departure of Marc Skinner. The former Birmingham City head coach, who spent five years at United, expressed frustration over the club’s transfer strategy and a perceived lack of investment in the squad. The club believes the current level of spending across the WSL is unsustainable, leading to a quieter summer transfer window.
Legacy of Marc Skinner
Skinner leaves a significant mark on the organization, having led the team to their first major trophy with a victory in the 2024 Women’s FA Cup final. Under his leadership, Manchester United also reached the Women’s Champions League group stage for the first time last year and finished as runners-up in three domestic cup finals. The team finished fourth in the WSL last term.
Players have praised Skinner’s impact. Toone told reporters that Skinner had done a lot for the club
and noted the hard work and passion he brought to the team. Le Tissier described the energy Skinner brought to the club as amazing
.
Squad Reaction and Outlook
Le Tissier affirmed that the squad remains unified, stating, Me and Tooney are at Man United because we want to win and we’ll be doing everything we can to make that happen
. She added that the team intends to stick together to ensure they are 100% ready
for the start of the season.
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