Manchester United and head coach Marc Skinner have agreed to mutually terminate the 43-year-old’s contract, according to reports from Yahoo Sports. The departure comes just one month before the start of the 2026-27 Women’s Super League (WSL) season, with the club scheduled to open their campaign against London City Lionesses on September 4.
Skinner, who succeeded Casey Stoney in July 2021, spent five years with the club. Sources close to the situation stated that Skinner had offered his resignation before the mutual agreement was reached. He had previously signed a two-year contract extension last summer, including a one-year option, which would have seen him remain at the club until at least 2027.
Achievements and Domestic Record
During his tenure, Skinner led Manchester United to their first major trophy with a victory in the 2024 Women’s FA Cup final against Tottenham at Wembley, as reported by The Guardian. The club also reached three successive FA Cup finals under his management and appeared in three domestic cup finals as runners-up, including a League Cup final loss to Chelsea in March.
In league play, Skinner guided the team to two top-three finishes in the WSL. This included a second-place finish in 2023, which marked the club’s highest domestic finish to date. However, the team finished fourth in the WSL last season, resulting in a failure to secure European qualification.
On the international stage, Skinner oversaw the club’s first qualification for the Champions League in 2023. The team reached the group stages for the first time last year and advanced to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Bayern Munich.
Investment Disputes and Recruitment Shifts
The departure follows ongoing friction regarding the club’s financial investment. Skinner had frequently cited the investment gap as a point of contention, stating in April that the reality is that it's the investment in the team that needs to happen
and noting that rivals like Chelsea spend to win. He called for changes during the summer to ensure the team could compete within the current financial market.
According to BBC Sport, Manchester United altered its recruitment strategy this year to target younger players to pursue sustainable, long-term success. This approach contributed to a quiet summer transfer window that frustrated supporters, especially as rivals like Arsenal and Chelsea continued to add to their squads. Other competitors also made significant moves; London City Lionesses signed two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, and Tottenham signed Lyon defender Alice Sombath.
United’s summer activity included the signing of goalkeeper Janina Leitzig and defender Andrea Medina. Conversely, forward Melvine Malard left the club for Chelsea in a deal valued at approximately £850,000.
Future Outlook and Replacement
Manchester United officials stated that Skinner made a significant contribution to the continued progress of Manchester United Women
and thanked him for his professionalism, commitment and dedication
.
The club is currently in an advanced search for a new head coach. According to club sources, background checks on potential candidates have already been completed. A primary requirement for the new appointment is a coach with a proven history of developing players.
In other organizational developments, BBC Sport reported in July that the club’s girls’ academy will train at Carrington, the main training facility, for the upcoming season.
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