90min
·18 August 2024
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Yahoo sports90min
·18 August 2024
A new season in the Women's Super League is fast approaching, and there has been plenty of change across the league throughout the summer.
Some of the most high-profile managers in the division, including Emma Hayes and Carla Ward, left their posts at Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively at the end of the 2023/24 season. They were just two of the clubs searching for a new head coach this summer, along with Leicester City and Brighton.
The new season is just over a month away, and every team now has a manager in place. As pre-season ramps up, 90min has taken a look at the managers in the English top flight, both new and old.
Meet the 12 WSL managers for the 2024/25 season...
Jonas Eidevall is the current manager of Arsenal / Morgan Hancock/GettyImages
Swedish coach Jonas Eidevall is the current manager of Arsenal, and he's been in post since 2021. Prior to his arrival in North London three years ago, he coached in his homeland with FC Rosengard, Helsingborgs IF as an assistant, and Lunds BK.
He's so far guided the Gunners to two FA Women's Continental League Cups, and three top four finishes in the league. In October last year, he signed a new three-year deal with the club, taking his tenure to 2026.
Robert de Pauw is the new manager of Aston Villa / Max Ellerbrake - firo sportphoto/GettyImages
Aston Villa were on the hunt for a new manager this summer after former boss Carla Ward opted to step aside at the end of last season in order to take a break from football. They finished seventh in the standings last term, with seven wins from 22 games.
At the end of June, the West Midlands club unveiled Robert de Pauw as Ward's successor from German side Bayer Leverkusen. The Dutch coach put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the option of a further year.
De Pauw became Villa's favoured candidate due to his experience coaching at both club and international level. Prior to Leverkusen, he managed FC Twente, and led them to a Vrouwen Eredivisie and Eredivisie Cup double in 2022. He has also worked with the Dutch FA as a youth coach, meaning he has a track record of developing young talent.
Dario Vidosic joined Brighton this summer / Robert Cianflone/GettyImages
In July, Brighton confirmed the appointment of Dario Vidosic as their new first team head coach on a contract until 2027. The 37-year-old joined the Seagulls from A-League side Melbourne City, where he had been since 2022.
Vidosic is a former player, born in Yugoslavia, but he represented Australia having moved to the country from Croatia in 1988. Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United, Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City are among the clubs he represented during his playing days.
Former Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor is now in charge of Chelsea / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages
For the first time in more than a decade, Chelsea needed to appoint a new manager this summer following the departure of Emma Hayes. After winning a fifth consecutive league title in May, Hayes departed the west London club for a new challenge with the USWNT.
Sonia Bompastor was confirmed as her replacement shortly after, the French coach joining from Division 1 Feminine champions Lyon. She signed a four-year contract upon her arrival, and was accompanied by her assistant Camille Abily, who also made the switch to Chelsea.
Laura Kaminski guided Crystal Palace to promotion last season / Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages
Laura Kaminski has been in charge at Crystal Palace since July last year, and she guided them to a Championship title and promotion in her first season. She joined the Eagles from her role as an assistant with Charlton Athletic, but she boasts an impressive coaching career spanning over 15 years.
Kaminski spent time at Tottenham Hotspur as an assistant coach and helped them gain promotion to the WSL in 2019. She has also held coaching roles at Arsenal, Brighton, Watford, QPR and Chelsea.
Brian Sorensen has been at Everton since 2022 / Michael Regan/GettyImages
Everton boss Brian Sorensen is now among the longest-serving managers in the WSL following the numerous changes across the league this summer. He made the move to Merseyside in 2022 from Danish side Fortuna Hjorring.
He signed a two-year deal ahead of the 2022/23 season, and replaced caretaker manager Chris Roberts, who had been in post since the dismissal of Jean-Luc Vasseur. Sorensen has had an impressive spell at Everton so far, and he was rewarded with a two-year contract extension in April this year.
Last month, Leicester City announced the appointment of Amandine Miquel as their new manager on a three-year contract. She joined from French side Stade de Reims, where she had spent seven successful years.
In the 2023/24 season, Miquel guided her team to a fourth-place finish in Division 1 Feminine. Her arrival at Belvoir Drive brought an end to an extensive recruitment process at the club, and the 40-year-old was deemed the right fit due to her track record of developing talent and maximising potential.
Matt Beard is currently in charge of Liverpool for the second time in his career / Naomi Baker/GettyImages
For the second time in his career, Matt Beard is the head coach of Liverpool. The 46-year-old guided the Reds to back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014 before he moved to the United States in 2016.
In 2018, he returned to England and took charge of West Ham, which was then followed by a brief spell as interim at Bristol City in 2021. That same year, he rejoined Liverpool and guided them to Championship glory and secured promotion back into the WSL in his first season back.
Gareth Taylor is in charge of Manchester City / Copa/GettyImages
Gareth Taylor is a former Wales international who retired from playing in 2011. He immediately took up a coaching role with Manchester City's academy, and was later promoted to head coach of the club's women's team in 2020.
Throughout his four years in charge so far, he has won one Continental League Cup in 2022, and his side were FA Cup finalists that same year. In the WSL, City have been runners-up behind Chelsea on two occasions under Taylor's stewardship.
Marc Skinner won his first piece of silverware with Manchester United last season / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
41-year-old Marc Skinner has been in charge of Manchester United since 2021, having previously coached Birmingham City and Orlando Pride. He became the Red Devil's second ever head coach as he took over from Casey Stoney, who was bound for the NWSL and San Diego Wave.
Last season, he guided United to their first piece of major silverware as they clinched the FA Cup ahead of Tottenham in the final back in May. Soon after, he signed a one-year extension on his contract, with the option of a further year.
Robert Vilahamn had an impressive first season at Tottenham / Alex Pantling/GettyImages
Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn is relatively new to the WSL, having only joined the club last summer, but he had an impressive first season in charge of the club. The Lilywhites finished eighth in the WSL standings, but progressed all the way to the FA Cup final last term.
Prior to his move to north London, Vilahamn had only ever coached in his homeland of Sweden. He was named as assistant coach at BK Hacken in 2020, and he was promoted to head coach for the 2022/23 campaign.
Rehanne Skinner is an experienced manager in the WSL / Alex Davidson/GettyImages
Rehanne Skinner was named head coach of West Ham last summer, replacing Paul Konchesky in the dugout. The 44-year-old boasts an extensive career in the women's game, having previously coached at both club and international level.
She has worked with both the Welsh and English Football Associations, and she was head coach at Tottenham from 2020-2023. Last season, the Hammers finished 11th in the standings, but nine points clear of relegation.