Marc Skinner to leave Birmingham City Women and expected to take over at Orlando Pride

After 18 months in charge of Birmingham City Women, Marc Skinner will leave the Midlands side to manage Orlando Pride.

Orlando Pride are based in Florida and play in the National Women’s Soccer League, the top level of women’s football in the United States. They have been without a coach since they parted ways with Tom Sermanni in September last year. Skinner will be the second coach in Orlando Pride’s NWSL history.

In their statement regarding Skinner’s departure, Birmingham City Women said that he has “opted to take up a managerial offer from another club”. That club, according to outlets in America, is Orlando Pride where Skinner will be in charge of two of the best players in women’s football, reigning Best FIFA Women’s Player Marta and US star Alex Morgan.

Marc Skinner has done a fantastic job with Birmingham City since taking over in December 2016. Under his guidance, Birmingham got to an FA Cup final where they were beaten 4-1 by Manchester City in May 2017. The Blues finished fifth last season and they have vastly improved during this campaign, currently sitting fourth while level on points with defending champions Chelsea.

Birmingham and the Women’s Super League as a whole will greatly miss Marc Skinner who is a well-respected figure in the women’s game. It is a shame to lose such a talented, young English coach especially when Birmingham are doing so well under his leadership at the moment. Losing their first-choice goalkeeper would have been hard but to lose their manager as well is a massive blow.

Skinner has been involved with Birmingham City since 2006. He was the technical director at the Birmingham City Ladies Centre of Excellence until 2012 before returning three years later. He was then promoted to manager in 2016 when David Parker and Marcus Bignot left the club.

Skinner’s last game in charge of the Blues will be on Sunday when they take on Bristol City at home.

Birmingham must get their next appointment right if they are to continue the superb work that has gone on over the last 18 months and not slide down the table at an alarming rate.