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Manchester United Women

Full name	Manchester United Women Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Red Devils
Founded	28 May 2018; 6 years ago (2018-05-28)
Ground	Leigh Sports Village, Old Trafford
Capacity	12,000
Owner	Manchester United plc (75%) INEOS (25%)
Co-chairmen	Joel and Avram Glazer
Head coach	Marc Skinner
League	Women's Super League
2023–24	WSL, 5th of 12
Website	manutd.com
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Departments of Manchester United
Men's football Women's football Academy Basketball (defunct)

Manchester United Women Football Club is a professional football club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England, that competes in the Women's Super League (WSL), the top tier of English women's football, after gaining promotion from the Championship at the end of the 2018–19 season.

History

1970s–2001: Unofficial teams

Ratified in 1921, the ban by The Football Association prohibiting women's football from being played at any of its clubs was formally lifted in 1971.

An unofficial team called United Ladies of Manchester was formed circa 1970 by a group of Stretford Enders. They trained at the club's training ground, The Cliff, and arranged matches against other clubs' unofficial women's teams.

Manchester United Supporters Club Ladies began operations in the late 1970s and was unofficially recognised as the club's senior women's team. In their earliest form they were a charity team that played fundraising matches and played its first game in October 1977. In 1979, the team joined the Three Counties League under the auspices of the Women's Football Association and started playing competitively. With the league covering a large area, United's committee campaigned for a local league and in 1982 the Women's FA approved the creation of the Manchester & District League, of which Manchester United Supporters Club Ladies was a founding member and won the first three seasons. In 1989, the combined Manchester & Merseyside League, North West Women's League, and the Three Counties League merged to form the North West Women's Regional Football League. The league was spread across four divisions and included 42 teams. At the same time, the team approached Manchester United F.C. for support and more formal backing. The club agreed and the team was allowed to use the name Manchester United Ladies FC, matches were advertised in the club's programme and the team was allowed to train at The Cliff. The team became increasingly competitive throughout the 1990s at various levels of the FA Women's National League up until 2001.

2001–2005: Partnership and disbandment

It's very disappointing. The progress of women's football can be really helped by professional clubs taking women's teams under their umbrella and it's a blow to the game that a great club like Manchester United will no longer be doing this.

In 2001, the team formed an official partnership with Manchester United. However, the club began to stagnate with a string of successive mid-table finishes in the third division. The team were disbanded four years later, in 2005, shortly after Malcolm Glazer's completed takeover with the new regime deeming the women's team to not be part of the "core business" and unprofitable. A media spokesman for Manchester United also claimed the club wanted to focus on its women's academy instead of its senior team.

2018–present: Current team

In March 2018, Manchester United announced their intentions to reintroduce a women's football team. Manchester United Women Football Club were founded on 28 May 2018, following the club's successful application to join the newly-formed 2018–19 FA Women's Championship. It marked the club's return to women's football after a thirteen-year absence; though the club's academy continued via the Manchester United Foundation, with the likes of Izzy Christiansen and Katie Zelem being produced by United's Centre of Excellence academy. Casey Stoney was appointed as the club's first head coach on 8 June, with their inaugural 21-player squad announced just over a month later.

The team's first game back was on 19 August 2018, where they won 1–0 in an away game against Liverpool in the FA Women's League Cup, with Lizzie Arnot scoring their first competitive goal in thirteen years. Three weeks later, their opening Championship encounter ended in a 12–0 victory away to Aston Villa. On 17 April 2019, United secured promotion to the FA Women's Super League following a 5–0 win against the same opposition. They clinched the FA Women's Championship title three days later following a 7–0 win at home to Crystal Palace. In May 2019, Manchester United were named FA Women's Championship Club of the Year at the 2019 FA Women's Football Awards.

The 2019–20 season was the team's maiden FA WSL campaign. The season opener was a Manchester derby, held at the City of Manchester Stadium. Manchester City won the match 1–0 in front of a then league record attendance of 31,213. United's first top-flight campaign was ended prematurely after the season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic with the team awarded fourth place on a points per game basis. The last game was a 3–2 victory over Everton on 23 February 2020, with Leah Galton scoring twice and Ella Toone scoring once for Manchester United in the first game played at Everton's new Walton Hall Park stadium. In the FA Cup, Manchester United lost 3–2 to Manchester City in the fourth round, the first time they had lost in the first knockout round of a competition. However, they repeated their best League Cup finish by reaching the semi-finals for the second consecutive year, losing 1–0 to eventual cup winners Chelsea.

Manchester United Women played their first game at Old Trafford, against West Ham United, during the men's March 2021 international break. Manchester United won the game 2–0.

On 12 May 2021, Manchester United announced that Casey Stoney would stand down from her role as head coach at the end of the season. On 29 July 2021, Marc Skinner was announced as the new head coach on a two-year contract, with the option for a further year. Skinner confirmed in March 2023 that the 12-month extension option was triggered, keeping him at the club until 2024. Later that season the team reached a major cup final for the first time, losing 1–0 to Chelsea in the 2023 Women's FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. After finishing as runners-up in the WSL, the team qualified for the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time ahead of the 2023–24 season. United were drawn against Paris Saint-Germain in the second qualifying round and earned a 1–1 draw at home before a 3–1 defeat in the second leg ended the debut European campaign.

On 12 May 2024, United defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4–0 in the 2024 Women's FA Cup final to win their first major title.

For the 2024–25 season the club will play three games at Old Trafford, an increase from two which they had played in the previous two seasons.

Ground

Following the club's acceptance into the 2018–19 FA Women's Championship, it was revealed that the women's team would be based in Broughton, Salford at The Cliff training ground; subject to completion of redevelopment work. United were to play their fixtures at Leigh Sports Village until this was completed, however the stadium has become the club's official home ground as the return to The Cliff never materialised. Moss Lane served as a backup venue, during the teams early years, when Leigh Sports Village is unavailable. Ewen Fields has also been used as a contingency plan, hosting United's FA Cup fifth round match against London Bees in February 2019. In March 2021, it was announced that the women's team would play their first ever game at Old Trafford later that month against West Ham United. In March 2022, the team played for the second time at Old Trafford and the first with fans present, beating Everton 3–1 in front of a club record 20,241 fans.

Players

Current squad

As of 2 October 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  SWE Anna Sandberg 3 DF  ENG Gabby George 4 DF  ENG Maya Le Tissier (captain) 5 DF  IRL Aoife Mannion 6 DF  ENG Hannah Blundell 7 MF  ENG Ella Toone (vice-captain) 8 MF  ENG Grace Clinton 9 FW  FRA Melvine Malard 11 MF  ENG Leah Galton 12 MF  WAL Hayley Ladd 13 MF  CAN Simi Awujo 14 DF  CAN Jayde Riviere 15 FW  NOR Celin Bizet 16 MF  NOR Lisa Naalsund

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 DF  NED Dominique Janssen 19 FW  NOR Elisabeth Terland 20 MF  JPN Hinata Miyazawa 21 DF  ENG Millie Turner 23 FW  BRA Geyse 25 DF  ENG Evie Rabjohn 28 FW  ENG Rachel Williams 34 MF  SCO Emma Watson 37 FW  ENG Keira Barry 38 DF  ENG Jess Simpson 39 GK  WAL Safia Middleton-Patel 55 DF  ENG Lucy Newell 91 GK  USA Phallon Tullis-Joyce

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 36 FW  ENG Alyssa Aherne (at Sheffield United until 30 June 2025)

Player of the Year

Season	Player of the Year					Players' Player of the Year
	Name	Nationality	Position	Notes	Ref.	Name	Nationality	Position	Notes	Ref.
2018–19	Katie Zelem	England	Midfielder	Inaugural winner		—
2019–20	Hayley Ladd	Wales	Midfielder
2020–21	Ona Batlle	Spain	Defender	First non-British winner
2021–22	Ella Toone	England	Midfielder			Alessia Russo	England	Forward	Inaugural winner
2022–23	Alessia Russo	England	Forward	First to win both awards		Hannah Blundell	England	Defender
2023–24	Ella Toone	England	Midfielder	First repeat winner and first to win both awards in the same season		Maya Le Tissier	England	Defender	First shared award
						Ella Toone	England	Midfielder

Coaching staff

First-team

As of 22 November 2023.

Position	Staff
Head coach	Marc Skinner
Assistant coaches	Dan Bale Charlotte Healy
Goalkeeping coach	Ian Willcock
Strength & conditioning coach	Tommy Munday

Higher management

As of 8 December 2024.

Position	Staff
Director of football	Vacant
Head of women's football	Matt Johnson (interim)
For a full list see Management of Manchester United F.C.

Managerial statistics

Information correct as of 15 December 2024. Only competitive matches are counted.

List of Manchester United W.F.C. managers

Image	Name	Nationality	From	To	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Win%	Honours	Notes
	Casey Stoney	England	8 June 2018	16 May 2021	77	52	6	19	213	60	067.53	1 Championship title
	Marc Skinner	England	29 July 2021	present	107	67	21	19	237	103	062.62	1 FA Cup title

Honours

• Women's FA Cup
  • Winners: 2023–24
• FA Women's Championship
  • Winners: 2018–19

Seasons

Key

• QR2 = Second qualifying round
• GS = Group stage
• QF = Quarter-finals
• SF = Semi-finals

Season summary

Records

Reserves and academy

Despite not having a senior women's team for many years, Manchester United have continued to run a girls regional talent club up to under-16 level in accordance with FA regulations. The club's partner charity, The Manchester United Foundation, also works in coaching girls at all ages across the Greater Manchester region. Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Manchester United entered a full-time U21 team into the FA WSL Academy League for the first time, managed by Charlotte Healy. The club's development team had contested the WSL Academy Cup final against Arsenal the previous season.

Under-21 squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 42 FW  ENG Jessica Anderson 43 DF  ENG Holly Minshull 47 DF  ENG Amelia Freeman 48 MF  WAL Mared Griffiths 50 MF  ENG Amelia Oldroyd 51 MF  ENG Ellie Adams 52 DF  ENG Olivia Moulton 54 DF  ENG Zaiba Ishaque 57 DF  ENG Lucy Crook

No. Pos. Nation Player 58 MF  ENG Phoebe Chadwick 59 MF  ENG Tamira Livingston 60 FW  ENG Aoife Farrall 64 GK  ENG Millie Crook 67 MF  ENG Olivia Turner — DF  ENG Amaris Ince — DF  ENG Ruby Johnson — MF  ENG Anna Fletcher

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 45 MF  ENG Holly Deering (dual registration with Liverpool Feds until 30 June 2025) 49 FW  WAL Olivia Francis (dual registration with Liverpool Feds until 30 June 2025) 63 GK  ENG Kacey Bolton-Woollam (dual registration with Huddersfield Town until 30 June 2025)

Academy manager history

Position	Staff
Under-21s manager	Charlotte Healy (2019–present)

Academy honours

Under-21 Team

• Professional Game Academy
  • National play-off winners: 2023–24
  • Northern Division: 2023–24
• FA WSL Academy League
  • National play-off winners: 2021–22
  • Northern Division: 2021–22
• FA WSL Academy Cup: 1
  • 2021–22

Under-16 Team

• U16 Professional Game Academy Cup: 1
  • 2023–24
• SuperCupNI: 1
  • 2025

Academy graduates

The following is a list of academy players who have made senior team appearances. Bold indicates the player is still at the club.

• Carrie Jones
• Ella Toone
• Emily Ramsey
• Fran Bentley
• Gabby George
• Karna Solskjær
• Katie Zelem
• Kirsty Hanson
• Millie Turner
• Naomi Hartley
• Rebecca May
• Tara Bourne
• Jess Simpson
• Safia Middleton-Patel

Notes

1. Win% is rounded to two decimal places
2. Goals in all competitions (FA Women's Championship or Women's Super League, Women's FA Cup, FA Women's League Cup and UEFA Women's Champions League are counted.)

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External links

• Official website (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish)
• MU Women's News – Manchester United official website
• MU Women's Videos – Manchester United official website

• Manchester United W.F.C.
• 2018 establishments in England
• Association football clubs established in 2018
• Women's football clubs in England
• Women's Championship (England) teams
• Football clubs in Manchester
• Women's Super League teams