Manchester United Women Set to Appoint Eva Olid as New Head Coach

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — Manchester United Women are set to appoint former Hearts manager Eva Olid as their new head coach, replacing Marc Skinner following his departure from the Women’s Super League club.

Talks with the 40-year-old Spanish coach are understood to be at an advanced stage, with Olid expected to meet and be introduced to the United squad on Wednesday.

Manchester United believe Olid is the right candidate to lead the team into a new chapter as the club adopts a longer-term strategy centred on developing young and homegrown players.

The club were reportedly impressed by her playing philosophy and proven ability to develop and improve footballers.

United also carried out extensive background checks before publicly confirming Skinner’s departure, indicating that succession planning had already been underway.

Olid arrives with an impressive recent record in Scottish women’s football.

She guided Hearts to their first Scottish Women’s Premier League title last season, securing the championship on a dramatic final day.

The achievement marked a significant milestone for the Edinburgh club and strengthened Olid’s reputation as one of the leading coaches in the women’s game.

She spent five years in charge of Hearts and also led the team to the 2024 Scottish Cup final, where they were defeated by Rangers.

Before her spell in Scotland, Olid gained coaching experience in the United States with Houston Dynamo, working with the organisation’s women’s team and its men’s under-19 squad.

She later held a role with the Catalan Football Association, adding further experience in player development and football education.

Her background is expected to align closely with Manchester United’s plans to improve their academy pathway and rely more heavily on emerging talent.

The club reportedly considers current spending levels across the Women’s Super League unsustainable and wants to pursue a different recruitment and development model.

Skinner’s departure was partly linked to frustration surrounding Manchester United’s transfer strategy.

He left after five years in charge, having guided the club to the Women’s FA Cup title in 2024.

United finished fourth in the WSL last season and will begin their new campaign away against ambitious London City Lionesses on September 4.

United captain Maya Le Tissier said the squad would remain united despite the managerial change and would focus on preparing fully for the new season.

Le Tissier and England teammate Ella Toone also paid tribute to Skinner, praising the energy, passion and effort he brought to the club during his tenure.

Toone said Skinner had ensured the players were informed personally before his departure became public, giving him an opportunity to say goodbye to the team.

Le Tissier added that the players had not been consulted on the identity of the next head coach but understood the club’s commitment to developing youth.

She stressed that the squad’s ambition remained unchanged and that the players were determined to compete for trophies regardless of leadership changes.

Olid’s expected appointment represents a significant step in Manchester United Women’s attempt to establish a clearer football identity and build sustainable long-term success.

Her immediate priorities will include preparing the squad for the opening WSL fixture, assessing the existing playing group and implementing a system that makes greater use of academy prospects.

The appointment will also place attention on whether United can remain competitive against rivals with larger transfer budgets while adopting a more development-focused strategy.

With her championship-winning experience at Hearts and strong reputation for improving players, Olid will be tasked with leading Manchester United into a new era and helping the club return to the leading positions in English women’s football.