Olid takes charge at Manchester United
Manchester United Women have confirmed the appointment of Eva Olid as their new head coach. Olid joins the club on a two-year deal, with an option for an additional 12 months. She takes over from Marc Skinner, who departed by mutual consent on Monday, approximately a month before the start of the Women’s Super League (WSL) season.
Olid previously managed Hearts, leading them to their first Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) title. Her contract with the Edinburgh club expired in the summer, prompting her move. During her tenure at Hearts, Olid also guided the team to their first domestic final, though they lost to Rangers in the 2024 Scottish Cup.
Speaking about her new role, Olid expressed her enthusiasm, stating that the opportunity to become head coach of Manchester United Women is a dream come true. She highlighted the existing talent within the squad and her eagerness to work with the players to help them achieve their potential. Olid also mentioned the club’s infrastructure, training facilities, and academy as factors contributing to their ambitions.
Focus on player development
A key requirement for Skinner’s replacement was a coach with a history of developing players. Manchester United believes Olid meets this criterion, hoping she will bring a new style of football influenced by her Spanish background. The club’s director of women’s football, Matt Johnson, stated that Olid is seen as the ideal coach to lead the team into a new era, sharing their commitment to developing homegrown and young players.
Olid has a track record of developing young talent, including twin sisters Erin and Jess Husband, who both made their debuts under her at the age of 15. Former Hearts captain Georgia Hunter praised Olid, noting the significant learning experience she provided to players and the transformation she brought to the club.
The club’s ethos is reportedly shifting, with a focus on developing players from within the academy to challenge for silverware. This approach is seen as a path to longer-term success, in contrast to higher investment in the transfer market, which the club believes is currently unsustainable. This strategy aims to leverage the academy, a model that has historically brought success to the men’s team, though it is untested in the women’s game.
Olid’s impact at Hearts
Olid’s five years at Hearts saw a significant transformation for the club. This success included leading the team to their first Scottish title, finishing two points ahead of Rangers in the SWPL last season.
Her tactical approach at Hearts was characterized by a full-frontal attacking style, often utilizing a 3-4-3 formation, with the goalkeeper playing a role as a fourth defender. Hearts were the top scorers in the SWPL last season, netting 85 goals. The team also demonstrated a balanced approach, ranking second for build-up attacks and first for direct attacks, indicating their ability to both build patiently and attack quickly. They averaged 56.8% possession, the fourth-highest in the league, and created 71 big chances during the season, the third-highest total in the division.
Without the ball, Hearts maintained an organized defense, ranking fifth for high turnovers and conceding only 35 big chances across the campaign, which was the fourth-fewest in the league. This combination of controlling games with possession and being dangerous on the break contributed to their title win.
Her first match in charge will be against London City Lionesses on 4 September, marking the beginning of United’s WSL season.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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