Why Eva Olid’s attacking vision fits United Women

Manchester United Women appointed Eva Olid as their new head coach at the start of last month, and Matt Johnston has now explained why the Spaniard was chosen to replace Marc Skinner.

The Director of Sport for the women’s team addressed the decision in the latest episode of Inside Carrington, setting out the thinking behind a significant change of direction at Carrington.

Why United moved on from Skinner

United parted ways with Skinner in the summer after six seasons in charge, a spell that delivered the club’s first major trophy, the 2024 FA Cup, and their maiden Champions League campaign, which ended at the quarter-final stage last season.

Johnston was clear that gratitude was due to the outgoing manager for leaving the club in a stronger position than he found it. Even so, the club felt a new approach was required, one built around developing young players while remaining competitive, and Johnston said the search centred on finding someone young, innovative and aligned with United’s values.

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Olid fit that brief, according to Johnston, who described meeting her as an inspiring experience and pointed to her charisma alongside a footballing outlook that matched United’s strategic direction. Her approach, as outlined by Johnston, is built on dominating possession, dominating the game and exploiting space quickly, with an emphasis on players moving forward with intent to score goals and entertain supporters.

That attacking identity will be tested against a backdrop of recent results, including United Women’s meeting with Liverpool last month.

A young club looking for the right fit

Director of Football Operations Ameesh Manek added further context, pointing to Olid’s work at Heart of Midlothian, where she turned an amateur setup into champions within a short space of time. Manek said it was the alignment of philosophy, ethos, culture and values that separated Olid from the other candidates considered for the role.

He also noted that United Women remain a relatively young club, not yet a decade old, which shaped the profile the recruitment team was looking for. That context sits alongside recent individual recognition within the squad, including Jess Park’s PFA WSL honour, and the ongoing squad-building work covered in reporting on Rebeca Bernal’s arrival.

Next up: Chelsea

United Women’s next assignment arrives this Sunday, when they host Chelsea at the Progress with Unity Stadium. It will be an early opportunity for supporters to see Olid’s stated principles taking shape on the pitch, though the primary source stops short of previewing how that will play out tactically.

Further background on Olid’s rise through Scottish football is available via BBC Sport and The Guardian, both of which covered her appointment in detail.