Aston Villa Women boss Carla Ward will step down at the end of the season.
Ward spent three years at Villa, establishing the club as a mainstay in the Women’s Super League under Gemma Davies following promotion to the top flight in 2020.
After a ninth-place finish in their inaugural season, Ward guided Villa to fifth place in 2022/23, the club’s best ever league position in the WSL. Villa also reached the FA Cup semi-finals that season.
Villa reached the semi-finals of the Conti Cup this season and currently sit seventh in the WSL with two games to go.
Ward says stepping down from that position was “the hardest decision of my managerial career.”
“Managing a great club like Aston Villa has been a full-throttle job and I have always given 100 per cent commitment to the role,” Ward said. “However, I believe that now is the right time for me to prioritize the other important things – like my daughter and the rest of my family life.”
“I am very grateful to Monchi and Damian Vidagany who have tried so hard to encourage me to stay in this role, but I know that after our final game of the season it is the right time to step down.”
Villa say there will be an update on the manager’s position “in due course”.
Monchi, president of football operations, said: “Carla came to us a few weeks ago and spoke of her plan to resign. We have spoken to her at length to see if there is anything we can do to get her to stay, but she insists she wants to take a break from the game.
“Therefore, on behalf of everyone at Aston Villa, I would like to thank Carla for everything she has achieved with us and wish her all the best for the future.”
Damian Vidagany, Director of Football Operations, said: “In my opinion Carla is one of the best managers in women’s football and we are sad to see her leave us. I wish her all the best for the future.”
Analysis: Ward’s departure is a blow for Villa
Laura Hunter from Sky Sports:
“The loss of Carla Ward is a huge blow to Aston Villa as she has been a driving force behind the club’s development on and off the pitch over the last three seasons. Last season was unprecedented, this year less so, but Ward still delivered. “A culture of growth and accelerated progress that attracted players with great international pedigree – Rachel Daly, Lucy Staniforth, Jordan Nobbs and Rachel Corsie – to the club has.
“Ward is a big personality, someone extremely well respected in the women’s game and one of the few female managers operating at an elite level. Obviously this season has been tough. Villa underperformed and thereby halted some of the momentum they had built up.” Last year’s successes have remained the same, but they are now an established force in the WSL and have proven they can go far in cup competitions.
“In today’s game it is difficult to find a strong replacement for the manager – as Chelsea are finding out – so it will be interesting to see what direction Villa go in next.”