It’s been a remarkable month in the Women’s Super League (WSL) with a number of managerial changes across the division.
Liverpool parted ways with Matt Beard, before Crystal Palace announced the departure of Laura Kaminski during the last international break. Then, Manchester City made the shock decision to sack Gareth Taylor just a few days before this weekend’s Women’s League Cup final.
These announcements came just a matter of months after Arsenal and Aston Villa underwent managerial changes of their own, taking the total number to five for the whole season. Prior to the campaign starting, there was plenty of upheaval in the dugouts with Emma Hayes among those to leave her position, as well as former Villa boss Carla Ward.
Rehanne Skinner is one of the most experienced figures in the WSL with her work in the league starting back in 2020. However, she initially coached Tottenham, having taken on the role midway through the 2019/20 season.
Towards the end of the 2022/23 season, Skinner was sacked by the London club following a run of nine straight defeats. She was then appointed head coach of West Ham in July 2023, where she has been ever since.
Skinner is now in her second season with the Hammers and they are currently ninth in the table with 16 games played. They have won four, drawn three and lost nine of their games so far.
Following Skinner’s departure in March 2023, Robert Vilahamn was appointed as Spurs boss at the beginning of July that year. The Swede had previously coached BK Hacken in his homeland and has enjoyed a successful spell in north London so far.
In his first season, Vilahamn guided Spurs to their first ever Women’s FA Cup final, which they subsequently lost to Manchester United. They also finished sixth in the WSL, ten points off the top four.
This term, Spurs are seventh in the standings after 15 games, but the points gap between tenth and fifth is just seven. Vilahamn signed a new contract with Spurs last summer, which will keep him at the club until 2027.
The second longest-serving manager in the WSL is Everton boss Brian Sorensen. The Dane was announced as Toffees head coach in April 2022 and formally took charge ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Last April, Sorensen signed a new two-year deal with Everton, keeping him at the Merseyside club until the end of the 2025/26 season. In his first season, he guided them to a top six finish and last term they finished eighth.
Everton are placed similarly this season despite a number of injury concerns. The threat of relegation loomed large in the early months of the current campaign, so Sorensen was backed in the January transfer window with some promising permanent and loan deals, including Emma Watson, Hayley Ladd, Kelly Gago and Maren Mjelde.
Following Taylor’s departure this week, Manchester United’s Marc Skinner is now the longest-serving manager in the WSL. Prior to joining United, the 41-year-old coached Birmingham City and then the NWSL’s Orlando Pride, before he returned to England in the summer of 2021.
His tenure has certainly divided opinion among a vocal United fanbase, although he did guide the club to their first piece of major silverware last season. Despite finishing outside of the top four in the WSL, United overcame Tottenham in the FA Cup final to rewrite the history books.
He was rewarded with a one-year contract extension, which can be extended to 2026. Reports indicate that United have until the end of March to trigger the clause, but a new deal can also be negotiated at any time.
