Manchester United and Marc Skinner agree to mutually terminate head coach’s contract

Manchester United and Marc Skinner have agreed to mutually terminate the 43-year-old’s contract as head coach of the women’s team.

>Sources close to the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, said Skinner had offered his resignation before reaching an agreement with the club.

>Skinner has been in the role since the summer of 2021 and signed a two-year contract extension last summer, with a one-year option, which had been due to run until at least 2027.

>But the former Birmingham City and Orlando Pride head coach has decided to depart just one month before the beginning of the 2026-27 Women’s Super League season.

>Speaking in April, Skinner called for changes at United this summer if the club is to progress, with the level of investment a frequent point of contention for the women’s side.

>United have brought in two signings this summer — defender Andrea Medina and goalkeeper Janina Leitzig — while forward Melvine Malard has departed for Chelsea in a deal worth in the region of £850,000.

>“This year, we’ve come into the Champions League and gone to the quarter-finals, got to our first League Cup final,” Skinner said in April. “I’m absolutely so passionate about what we do. But we have to do some changes in the summer. We have to make some changes to make sure that we can compete with what’s clearly a financial market at times, right?

>“And we want to do it our own way. We’ve said that and we’re clear on that. But we have to make sure we write those smart assignments to keep pushing this team forward.”

>Skinner succeeded Casey Stoney in the role and led United to the women’s team’s first piece of silverware in 2024 with victory in the FA Cup, followed by qualification for their Champions League group stages for the first time in 2025. They finished fourth in the WSL last season to miss out on European qualification.

>United begin their 2026-27 WSL campaign against London City Lionesses on September 4.

>This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

>Manchester United WFC, Women's Soccer, Women's Super League

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