Marc Skinner has left his role as Manchester United Women Head Coach by mutual consent after five years in charge.
The club announced his departure in a statement on the club website on Monday morning, which read:
“Marc leaves having made a significant contribution to the history of Manchester United Women. The club places on record its thanks for his professionalism, commitment and dedication throughout his time at United.”
Last season saw United finish fourth in the Women’s Super League, as well as reaching the Women’s League Cup Final and the Quarter Finals of the Women’s Champions League in their first season in the competition.
First Cup Final And Top Three Finish
Skinner replaced Casey Stoney as manager at Leigh Sports Village in July 2021. After a third successive fourth-placed finish in his first season, United went one better in 2022-23 as they finished as runners-up, securing a place in the Champions League qualifiers with a 2-1 win over Manchester City.
United took the title race to the final day, playing their part as they beat Liverpool 1-0 at Prenton Park. It wasn’t quite enough though as Chelsea retained the title by beating Reading, a result which in turn relegated the Royals.
That season United also secured a first-ever trip to Wembley as they reached the FA Cup Final after a dramatic 3-2 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in the semi-finals. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, they just fell short as they were beaten by the Blues.
Silverware Before Key Departures
United’s first journey into Europe proved to be a brief one as they were beaten in the qualifiers by Paris Saint-Germain. There was also disappointment in the WSL as they were unable to build on the previous campaign, finishing in fifth.
However, there was plenty to celebrate as a first-ever victory over Chelsea secured a place in a second successive FA Cup Final. This time United were victorious, beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 to claim their first ever major trophy.
That summer, several key players departed at the end of their contracts. Goalkeeper Mary Earps, FA Cup-winning captain Katie Zelem and Lucia Garcia, player of the match in the Wembley triumph, all left for free.
More Cup Finals And European Journey
A third successive FA Cup Final followed in 2025 but Chelsea again proved to be United’s nemesis with a comfortable 3-0 win. However, a third place finish secured Champions League football to typify the ups and downs that had categorised Skinner’s reign.
This time United made it through the qualifiers and reached the league phase. They won four of their six league phase games to finish sixth in the table. The highlight was undoubtedly a famous 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain, which saw Earps make her return to Manchester.
After getting past Atletico Madrid (who they had previously beaten in the league phase) in the knock-out play-offs, Bayern Munich in the Quarter Finals proved to be a step too far as the German giants narrowly won both legs for a 5-3 aggregate success
Gap Between United And Big Three
There have been two major areas that have proved to be a source of frustration for United fans over the past few years while Marc Skinner has been in charge at Leigh Sports Village. One of these is the regularity with which key players have left. Only this summer, striker Melvine Malard was sold to Chelsea.
That was flagged up by the coach heading into this summer, with the 43-year-old calling for changes in order for the club to challenge for more regular silverware in the future.
The other has been their dismal record in games against teams in the WSL’s traditional ‘big three’ of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. A famous 4-2 win at the Etihad in January 2025 is United’s only victory against one of those three sides in the last three seasons.
Overall from 30 big three league clashes during Skinner’s time in charge United only four of them ended in victory, with ten draws. The record against Chelsea makes particularly damning reading- with only a single point gained from their last ten attempts.
Whilst United did finish fourth last season, the game between them and third-place Chelsea was nine points with eventual champions City, who had finished behind their neighbours in the previous campaign, finished 15 points ahead this time around.
