Hearts to lose manager who 'revolutionised club' as SWPL title chasers confirm shock news of duo's departure

The Gorgie club have confirmed the shock news of Olid’s departure just days after going top of the table for the first time this season with a 1-0 away win against Glasgow City. Danique Ypema’s late strike saw them move a point clear of Rangers in second place with just five games remaining.

Olid, 40, joined the Jambos in the summer of 2021, replacing outgoing boss Andy Kirk following stints in her homeland and the United States. She also worked as head coach with the Catalan Football Association prior to her move to the capital. Heralded by former sporting director Joe Savage as a “top operator” upon her arrival, she has been credited as having "revolutionised the club” after leading them to the final of the Scottish Women’s Cup in 2024 for the first time.

Transforming the club since her arrival, she has taken them from relegation candidates to SWPL title contenders, leading them to back-to-back record fourth-place finishes in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. She also lead the team to their first-ever victories against traditional SWPL powerhouses Glasgow City, Celtic, and Rangers during her tenure, and has been credited challenging the long-standing dominance of the Glasgow clubs, and city rivals Hibs.

Hearts have confirmed they will also say goodbye to assistant coach Pascal Xanthos, who has been with the club for the last two seasons, with a statement on the Hearts website saying: “Heart of Midlothian can confirm Eva Olid will leave the club at the end of the season through mutual agreement.

“It has been mutually agreed that the Women’s Team Head Coach will move on following a near five-year spell in Gorgie. Eva has played a huge role in the Women’s Team’s journey from second tier to top flight, where they currently sit in first place of the SWPL following Sunday’s superb 1-0 win away to Glasgow City. It was after that victory that Eva informed her players that she will be moving on come the season’s end, as the club looks to the future and embraces its position in what is exciting new era for Hearts at all levels.

“Hearts TV will sit down with Eva come the end of the season to reflect on her time at the club, but until then she remains committed to maintaining the team’s impressive form and attempting to achieve a special finish to the campaign.”

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