Aston Villa Sack Natalia Arroyo After Winless WSL Start
Aston Villa have sacked women’s head coach Natalia Arroyo after four winless WSL matches, following a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Aston Villa Women have parted ways with head coach Natalia Arroyo following a difficult opening to the 2026/27 Women’s Super League (WSL) campaign, with the Spaniard dismissed after the team failed to record a victory in its first four league matches.
The decision was announced on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, just two days after Villa suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur. The result left the club second-bottom of the WSL table with only two points from four matches.
The dismissal brings an early end to Arroyo’s tenure at Villa, where she had been in charge since January 2025. Aston Villa confirmed that Women's Technical Advisor Brian Sørensen will take temporary charge of the first team while the club considers its next appointment. (Aston Villa FC)
Difficult Start to the WSL Season
Villa’s first four league matches produced two draws and two defeats. The campaign began with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea before a 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City.
A second 1-1 draw followed against Brighton & Hove Albion, leaving Villa still searching for their first league victory. Their fourth match brought the heaviest setback of the campaign when Tottenham defeated them 4-0. (The Guardian)
The sequence left Aston Villa with two points from a possible 12 and among the teams yet to win in the early stages of the WSL season.
Although the fixtures included challenging opponents, the club's lack of victories and defensive vulnerability ultimately resulted in a change in the dugout.
Tottenham Defeat Accelerates Decision
The 4-0 loss at Tottenham appears to have been the immediate trigger for the club's decision.
According to reports, Villa conceded all four goals during the second half, with the performance highlighting concerns over the team's defensive organisation and consistency. BBC Sport reported that Villa had looked increasingly open defensively and struggled out of possession during the opening weeks of the campaign. (Yahoo Sports)
The defeat came only days after Arroyo had overseen a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the Players Cup, demonstrating the contrast between Villa's cup and league form.
That victory was Villa's first competitive win of the season, but it was not enough to prevent the club from making a managerial change after the subsequent Tottenham defeat.
Arroyo's Aston Villa Tenure
Arroyo joined Aston Villa in January 2025 after a successful spell managing Real Sociedad Femenino. She inherited a Villa side struggling near the relegation places and helped guide the club away from danger during the second half of the 2024/25 season.
Her first full season in charge produced a ninth-place WSL finish. However, Villa's campaign ended with a difficult run of results, including four consecutive league defeats.
The club subsequently strengthened its squad during the summer transfer window, with experienced players including Mathilde Harviken and Amalie Vangsgaard arriving from Juventus. Expectations consequently increased ahead of the new campaign. (The Independent)
Despite the investment, Villa's early league results failed to match those expectations.
Brian Sørensen Takes Temporary Charge
Aston Villa have appointed Brian Sørensen as interim manager following Arroyo's departure.
Sørensen is already familiar with the WSL, having previously managed Everton. He joined Aston Villa's women's setup as a technical advisor in March 2026 following his departure from Everton.
His first assignment comes quickly, with Villa scheduled to face Newcastle United Women in the Subway Players Cup on Wednesday, September 30.
The team is then due to return to WSL action against Crystal Palace on October 4, giving Sørensen an immediate opportunity to assess the squad and begin working on the problems that contributed to the club's difficult league start.
What Comes Next for Aston Villa?
The club's immediate priority will be to stabilise the women's team and improve its league position.
Villa's opening four matches have produced only two points, but the season remains at an early stage. The club will therefore have time to recover from its difficult start if it can turn performances into victories.
For Sørensen, the challenge will involve improving Villa's defensive organisation while also finding greater consistency in attack. The team has demonstrated that it can produce positive results, as shown by the Players Cup victory over Nottingham Forest, but translating that form into the WSL will be crucial.
Aston Villa have not yet announced a permanent replacement for Arroyo. The search for a new head coach will therefore become an important part of the club's plans as it attempts to move away from the lower end of the WSL table.
Arroyo's departure also represents the first managerial change of the 2026/27 WSL season, underlining the pressure that exists in the increasingly competitive women's game.
For now, Villa's focus shifts to Newcastle and the next phase of the season under Sørensen, as the club seeks to recover from a winless opening and establish greater stability on and off the pitch.