Manchester United Women have reached a mutual agreement with head coach Marc Skinner to terminate his contract, ending his five-year tenure at the club.

Skinner departs having overseen the most successful period in the team’s history, guiding United to three consecutive Women’s FA Cup finals, including lifting the trophy in 2024 with a 4-0 victory over Tottenham at Wembley in front of a sold-out crowd.

The win secured the club’s first major honour, although United were beaten by Chelsea in the 2023 and 2025 finals.

Skinner also led United to their highest-ever Women’s Super League finish in 2022-23, when they ended the campaign as runners-up and qualified for the Women’s Champions League for the first time.

The 48-year-old signed a new two-year contract last summer, with the option of a further year, after securing a second consecutive Champions League qualification place.

However, his final season in charge proved a disappointing one as an injury-hit squad fell short on multiple fronts. United finished fourth in the WSL behind champions Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, missing out on Champions League qualification. 

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

They also lost the League Cup final to Chelsea and saw their maiden European campaign in the competition proper end in the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich.

A statement from the club read: ‘Marc leaves having made a significant contribution to the continued progress of Manchester United Women.

‘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’s departure comes at a time when questions are growing over whether United are investing enough to compete with the Women’s Super League’s leading clubs.

While rivals have strengthened significantly this summer, United have made just two signings: 22-year-old defender Andrea Medina and 27-year-old goalkeeper Janina Leitzig. They have also lost star forward Melvine Malard to Chelsea in a deal reportedly worth around £850,000.

London City Lionesses, who finished fifth last season, have signed two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, while Lyon defender Alice Sombath, who lifted the Champions League with the French side in 2022, has joined Tottenham. Arsenal have strengthened with the additions of Lionesses midfielder Georgia Stanway and World Cup-winning right back Ona Battle and Chelsea have added experience in Katie McCabe and Malard. Man City have signed England’s Euro-winning pair Beth Mead and Niamh Charles.

Throughout his tenure, Skinner has faced criticism from sections of the fanbase, with some arguing he has taken the team as far as he can.

For some, last season’s runs to the League Cup final and Champions League quarter-finals only reinforced that view, with critics arguing United cannot get over the line in the biggest games. Their record of one win from four finals – with all three defeats coming against Chelsea – adds weight to this argument.

The former Birmingham City and Orlando Pride manager, however, consistently pointed to the gap in investment between United and their closest rivals, insisting the club risked standing still as others accelerated.

‘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.’

Skinner departs with just over a month until United begin the new Women’s Super League season away to London City Lionesses on September 4.