Marc Skinner departs Manchester United Women one month before season

In a surprise move one month before the new season, Manchester United Women and manager Marc Skinner (43) have agreed to part ways by mutual consent, bringing an end to a five-year spell that delivered the club's biggest achievements to date.

The decision follows a growing rift over transfer strategy. Skinner — who signed a two-year extension last summer — repeatedly urged for greater investment and incoming signings to help bridge the gap with the leading sides in England and Europe. Club leaders, however, have opted to prioritise the development of young, homegrown players this summer.

Legacy and timing

Skinner took charge in July 2021, replacing Casey Stoney, and quickly reshaped the squad. Under his stewardship the team won the FA Cup in 2024 with a 4:0 victory over Tottenham, secured a club-record second place in the league in 2023, and reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season. Those achievements made him the most successful manager in the short history of the women's side.

Sources within the club say dissatisfaction with a modest transfer window and the difference in long-term vision led Skinner to offer his resignation; the parties ultimately agreed on a mutual termination of the contract. The move comes at a delicate moment for Manchester United’s broader football operations, after the men’s side showed signs of consolidation under Michael Carrick at Old Trafford.

The club has not yet announced a successor. With the season opener now less than a month away, the search for a new head coach will be closely watched by supporters and rivals alike as United recalibrates its approach to recruitment and squad building.

Photo: press material from the event