Eva Olid appointed Manchester United Women head coach on two-year deal
On 5 August 2026 Manchester United confirmed Eva Olid as their new women's manager on a two-year deal with an option for a further 12 months. The 40-year-old Spaniard replaces Marc Skinner, who left the role by mutual consent on Monday, a month before the start of the Women's Super League season.
Olid spent five years at Hearts from 2021 to 2026 and took them from the bottom of the table to the title, leaving Edinburgh in the summer when her contract expired. During her time at Hearts she clinched the club's first Scottish Women's Premier League title last campaign and also guided them to their first domestic final, losing to Rangers in the 2024 Scottish Cup. Hearts won more games and scored more goals than anyone else during the 2025-26 season, a turnaround credited to Olid after she arrived in Edinburgh as a virtual unknown.
Manchester United have said they sought a candidate with a history of developing players and believe Olid fits that brief; her contract has been signed to keep her at Manchester United until 2028 with the option of an extra year. "The opportunity to become head coach of Manchester United Women is a dream come true," Olid said. "There is already so much talent within our squad and I am excited to work with the players to support them to fulfil their immense potential." United's director of women's football Matt Johnson added: "Eva is the perfect coach to lead us into an exciting new era - she shares our commitment to developing exciting homegrown and young players."
At Hearts Olid often employed a full-frontal attacking approach, typically using a 3-4-3 formation with the goalkeeper expected to play a key part as a fourth defender. Hearts were top scorers in the SWPL last season with 85 goals - only Rangers with 80 were within 20 of them - and that attacking output was cited as evidence she could supply chances for United's frontline of Ella Toone, Lea Schuller and Elisabeth Terland.
Statistical profiles from Hearts' title campaign show a team capable of both patient build-up and rapid transition: they ranked second for build-up attacks but first for direct attacks and averaged 56.8% possession, the fourth-highest figure in the league. Hearts produced 71 big chances during the season, the third-highest total in the division, registered an xG per shot of 0.116 (third) and were among the league leaders for fast-break shots; defensively they ranked fifth for high turnovers and conceded only 35 big chances, the fourth-fewest.
Olid also demonstrated tactical flexibility: after failing to beat Glasgow City across her first four seasons, she adopted a defensive gameplan in April and secured a 1-0 win to go top of the table. That victory coincided with the match where she announced her intention to leave, saying she could not have gone without tasting victory against them at least once. Former Hearts captain Georgia Hunter, who moved to Ipswich this summer, said of Olid: "She's a great manager, very, very good," she told BBC Sport. "I learnt so much. The transition with all the players and [where] she took the club to is absolutely amazing."
Olid has a record of promoting young players, including the Husband twins Erin and Jess, who both made their debuts under her aged 15, and United have highlighted youth development as a key requirement for the new head coach. Given Olid has also spent time working with the Scotland women's national team, BBC Sport Scotland's Amy Canavan said: "We were convinced she had somewhere special to go," Canavan said. "She 100% deserves this chance and is ready for it." The club moved quickly after Skinner's exit, with Olid's appointment completed within 24 hours, and the decision has drawn immediate scrutiny over United's ambition for the women's team.
United begin their WSL season at London City Lionesses on 4 September; Olid's stated immediate tasks are to galvanise a depleted squad this summer, embed youthful talent and prepare for that season opener as a key marker of United's starting point for 2026-27.
