Manchester United Women manager Marc Skinner has reached a mutual agreement with the club to terminate his contract.
Skinner, who had been in charge of United since 2021, signed a two-year contract extension last summer before guiding the team to a fourth-place finish in last season’s Women’s Super League. United missed out on European qualification, finishing behind champions Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.
The 48-year-old led United to three consecutive Women’s FA Cup finals, lifting the trophy in 2024 to secure the club’s first major honour.
He also oversaw the team’s highest-ever top-flight finish in 2022-23, when United ended the campaign in second place. That season, they reached their first Women’s Champions League quarter-final and League Cup final.
United have watched their rivals invest heavily this summer, while making just two signings of their own: 22-year-old defender Andrea Medina and goalkeeper Janina Leitzig. They have also lost key forward Melvine Malard to Chelsea in a deal reportedly worth around ยฃ850,000.
A statement from United read: ‘Marc leaves having made a significant contribution to the continued progress of Manchester United Women.
Manchester United Women manager Marc Skinner has reached a mutual agreement with the club to terminate his contract after five years in charge
The 48-year-old led United to three consecutive Women’s FA Cup finals, lifting the trophy in 2024 to secure the club’s first major honour
‘The club places on record its sincere thanks for his professionalism, commitment and dedication throughout his time at United, and wishes him every success in the future.’
Skinner faced criticism at various points during his tenure, with some supporters calling for his departure amid suggestions he had taken the side as far as possible.
The former Birmingham City and Orlando Pride manager, however, repeatedly argued that the level of investment in United Women lagged behind that of the three clubs who finished above them last season, as well as emerging challengers such as London City Lionesses and Tottenham.
‘We see the investment around us, we see the strategy around us,’ he said in May.
‘No longer can we just look at them teams above us, we have to be able to be aware of those teams below.
‘I know everybody wants to jump on the negative but there’s also amazing growth from this team too.
‘We have to do some reflection, of course we do.
‘The reality is we have to assess over the summer where the resource goes and which direction we push that in, to make sure we stay in that chasing pack and obviously make sure the teams behind us can’t catch us.’
He departs the club with just over a month left before United’s first game of the season at London City Lionesses on September 4.
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