Man Utd to appoint former Hearts boss Eva Olid as women's manager

Manchester United are set to appoint former Hearts head coach Eva Olid as manager of their women's team, with the 40-year-old due to meet the squad on Wednesday as the club finalise her appointment a month before the Women's Super League season begins.

Olid, a Spaniard, left Hearts this summer after guiding the Edinburgh side to their first Scottish Women's Premier League title last season. She joined Hearts in 2021 and had signed an extension running to the summer of 2026 with an option for a further year, but the club announced in April that she would depart at the end of the campaign by mutual agreement. Under Olid, Hearts reached their first domestic final, losing to Rangers in the 2024 Scottish Cup, and had finished fourth in consecutive seasons before dropping to fifth in 2024-25. Last term they finished two points clear of Rangers to secure their inaugural league trophy.

Marc Skinner left Manchester United by mutual consent on Monday after five years in charge. During his tenure United won their first major trophy with victory in the Women's FA Cup final in 2024, reached the Women's Champions League group stage for the first time last year and were runners-up in three domestic cup finals.

Reports in the club cited Skinner's concerns about a lack of investment and noted United have had a quiet summer transfer window. The club have altered their recruitment strategy this year, targeting younger players to build for the future, and sources said one of the key criteria for Skinner's successor is a coach with a proven record of developing players.

Olid is expected to meet the United squad on Wednesday as the club completes formalities around the appointment. The move would come with roughly one month remaining before United begin their WSL campaign.

United will start their Women's Super League season at London City Lionesses on 4 September, a fixture that precedes the club finalising their managerial transition.