Manchester United is poised to name Eva Olid, the former manager of Hearts, as their new head coach, succeeding Marc Skinner, who departed on Monday, according to multiple sources reporting to the Guardian.
Discussions with the 40-year-old are said to be in the final stages, with an official introduction to the United squad anticipated on Wednesday.
The club expresses confidence that Olid is the ideal candidate to steer them into a new era, as initially reported by the Telegraph. The focus of the Women’s Super League team is on nurturing young, homegrown talent.
Olid achieved significant success with Hearts, leading them to their inaugural Scottish Women’s Premier League title during a thrilling conclusion to last season. However, it was announced in April that she would depart the Edinburgh club this summer by mutual consent. Over her five-year tenure, she also guided Hearts to the 2024 Scottish Cup final, where they faced defeat against Rangers.
Before her time in Scotland, Olid had coaching experience in the United States with Houston Dynamo, overseeing both their women’s team and the under-19 men’s squad, along with a stint at the Catalan Football Association.
Manchester United has reportedly been impressed by her coaching style and her talent for player development. Extensive background evaluations were conducted on Olid prior to the public announcement of Skinner’s departure, with succession planning already underway.
Skinner’s exit was partly attributed to his dissatisfaction with the club’s transfer strategy. The organization believes that the current spending patterns within the WSL are not sustainable and aims to adopt a different strategy that emphasizes the development of its younger players and enhancements to its academy for long-term success.
Last season, United finished in fourth place in the WSL and will kick off the new season with an away match against the financially aggressive London City Lionesses on September 4.
This announcement coincides with comments from United captain Maya Le Tissier, who affirmed that the team will remain united and prepared for the upcoming WSL season, despite the recent coaching changes.
Le Tissier and her teammates were informed of Skinner’s departure in a meeting on Monday morning, shortly before the news became public. On Tuesday, Le Tissier and her England teammate Ella Toone expressed their gratitude to Skinner for his contributions during his five years at the helm, which included winning the 2024 Women’s FA Cup.
Le Tissier praised the “amazing energy” Skinner brought to the club, while Toone remarked that it was thoughtful of him to inform the team before the announcement. “He has done so much for the club, and we cannot thank him enough for his hard work and passion in leading us,” she stated.
While neither Le Tissier nor Toone were consulted about the selection of the next head coach, Le Tissier commented, “The club has been clear in its intentions to focus on youth development, which is a hallmark of Manchester United’s history.” She added that the ambitions would be clear when they meet the new manager.
“Both Toone and I are at Manchester United because we aspire to win, and we will do everything possible to achieve that. We have a fantastic team, a strong squad, and wonderful teammates,” she asserted.
Le Tissier noted the importance of unity within the team, stating, “Regardless of who comes and goes, we have always maintained our bond and commitment to each other, especially during challenging times. This situation may be tough right now with the start of pre-season, but we are determined to be fully prepared for the season ahead.”
“We communicated with the team today, and we will continue to support each other, as we always do. Our goal is to go out on the pitch, enjoy the game, and be together as a team, ensuring we overcome any obstacles we face.”
