Eva Olid to Take Over Manchester United Women

United Appoint Eva Olid as Head Coach

Eva Olid has been appointed Manchester United Women's head coach on a two-year contract through 2028 with an option for a further year. She described the role as a "dream come true" in her first interview.

Olid arrives from Hearts, where she guided the club to mid-table stability and European qualification in Scotland's top flight. She replaces Marc Skinner, whose departure was announced on Monday.

Source: Manchester United statement

United were drawn to her record in player development, a priority aligned with the club's stated ambition to compete in the Champions League and win the WSL.

Skinner's Record and Exit

Skinner took over at United in December 2022, succeeding Emma Hayes following her surprise departure. His remit was to stabilise the squad and rebuild. United finished fifth in the Women's Super League in his final full season, a result below the standard expected at a club of United's stature. The Champions League group stage, seen as the minimum threshold, was not reached.

Inside the club, the writing had been on the wall since autumn. A defeat to Chelsea in October demonstrated that the rebuild needed acceleration, not extension.

Olid's Coaching Record

Olid's portfolio is compact but deliberate. She spent three seasons in Real Madrid's youth setup before taking over at Levante, where she won the 2022 Copa de la Reina, defeating Barcelona in the process. The victory established her as a coach capable of organising defensively against superior opposition.

She moved to Hearts in 2023. The mandate was straightforward: compete in a league dominated by Celtic and Rangers, develop academy prospects, and keep the club in the Women's Scottish Premier League. She delivered on all three. Hearts finished fourth in her first full season and qualified for European competition in 2024, a credible result given the resource gap between Scotland's top tier and the WSL.

Her tactical identity centres on a compact 4-2-3-1 shape, ball retention from the back, and a preference for playing through pressure rather than bypassing it.

Contract Details and Decision-Making

Olid's deal runs until 2028 with a 12-month extension option. Financial terms were not disclosed, but United are understood to have paid Hearts a modest compensation package, well below the six-figure sums attached to previous high-profile appointments at the club.

Sporting director Billie Moore led the recruitment process. She met with Olid in London in early June to discuss the project, the current squad, and the timeline for improvement.

What Comes Next

The WSL season starts in September. United are scheduled for a pre-season tour of the United States in July, giving Olid just over a month to assess the squad, identify gaps, and begin reshaping training ground culture.

Several key contracts expire at the end of the current campaign, including that of veteran midfielder Katie Zelem, whose future is uncertain. United are expected to make one or two signings in the forward line during the summer window.

Olid's first competitive match will be a home league fixture against Chelsea on 14 September.

Source: BBC Sport

The appointment marks a departure from the high-profile, high-cost strategy that characterised the early years of Skinner's tenure. Olid is not a name associated with silverware, but she is a coach who has achieved more with fewer resources, which is the profile United are now seeking.

Updated: 2026-08-04 - Confirmed Eva Olid's official appointment with two-year contract to 2028 plus extension option and her first interview reaction