Manchester United have confirmed Eva Olid as the new head coach of their women’s team, with the former teacher signing a contract until June 2028 (with an option for a further year).
She replaces Marc Skinner, who recently left the role by mutual consent, just a month before the start of the new WSL season.
From Sabadell to the WSL Sidelines
Eva Olid was born and raised in Sabadell, Catalonia, where she’s affectionately known in local media as “la sabadellenca” – The Woman From Sabadell.
She grew up watching football every weekend with her dad and played alongside boys before joining her local girls’ team at age ten – the very same club that would go on to develop Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.
Olid originally trained as a teacher before moving into coaching.
Eva Olid Enjoyed a Trophy-Laden Spell at Hearts
The 40-year-old arrives at United having just led Heart of Midlothian to their first-ever Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) title, taking the club from the second tier to the top of Scottish football.
Her achievements earned her both the SWPL’s Manager of the Season and PFA Scotland’s SWPL Manager of the Year awards.
She’s also previously spent time honing her coaching craft in the United States, working with the Houston Dynamo’s academy, as well as with the Catalan Football Association in Catalonia.
She Favours a Possession-Based, Attacking Style of Play
At Hearts, Eva Olid’s teams were known for their attacking, possession-based football.
She favoured a back three but showed tactical flexibility – switching between formations depending on the opposition – and her side topped the SWPL table for goals last season with 85.
Eva Olid is a Significant Appointment for the WSL
Eva Olid’s arrival takes the number of female head coaches in the WSL to five out of 14.
She takes charge of a United side determined to develop homegrown talent, with the club citing her track record of improving young players as central to the appointment.
Her first WSL league test comes away at London City Lionesses on 4 September.
