Aston Villa have parted ways with manager Natalia Arroyo following a difficult start to the 2026/27 Women’s Super League season.
The decision was confirmed on Tuesday, September 29, less than 48 hours after Villa suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur. Natalia Arroyo leaves the club with the team winless after four league matches and sitting 13th in the 14-team WSL table.
Natalia Arroyo Leaves Aston Villa After Difficult Start
Natalia Arroyo joined Aston Villa in January 2025, replacing Robert de Pauw after the club had struggled during the first half of the 2024/25 campaign.
The Spaniard initially made a positive impact. Villa had taken just two wins from their opening 12 WSL matches before Natalia Arroyo arrived, but a difficult adjustment period was followed by five consecutive league victories. The team eventually finished sixth that season.
However, things became more difficult during Arroyo’s first full campaign in charge.
Villa finished ninth in the 2025/26 WSL season, collecting 20 points from 22 matches. Their campaign ended with four successive defeats, creating questions around whether the team could improve during the following season.
Those concerns have now played a major part in Natalia Arroyo’s departure.
Villa opened the current WSL campaign with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea before a 4-1 defeat against Manchester. Those results were followed by another 1-1 draw at Brighton and Sunday’s 4-0 loss to Tottenham.
That leaves Villa with two points from their first four league matches.
A Difficult End to Arroyo’s Tenure
The defeat to Tottenham appears to have been the final result in the decision to make a change.
Villa were beaten four times in their final four league games of last season and have now failed to win any of their first four matches this term. According to reports, the club’s decision followed the poor start and the heavy defeat against Tottenham.
There is also a wider concern around Villa’s league form. The club had managed only two WSL victories across 15 league matches during 2026 before Natalia Arroyo’s dismissal.
The timing of the decision means Villa must now move quickly to find some stability.
“Everyone at Aston Villa would like to thank Natalia for her efforts and wish her all the best in her future endeavours,” the club said in a statement.
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Brian Sørensen Takes Temporary Charge
Aston Villa have confirmed that women’s technical adviser Brian Sørensen will take temporary charge of the first team.
Sørensen joined Villa in March after leaving Everton, where he had spent four years as manager. His first match in temporary charge will come against Newcastle United in the Subway Players Cup on Wednesday.
He could also oversee Sunday’s WSL fixture against Crystal Palace as Villa begin life without Natalia Arroyo.
For Villa, the immediate priority will be to stop the slide and give the players some confidence. The club will then have to decide on a permanent replacement and whether a new manager can provide the improvement that was expected at the beginning of the season.
Natalia Arroyo leaves behind a mixed record at Aston Villa. She helped the club recover from a difficult position in 2024/25 and guided them to sixth place, but the following season ended in ninth, and the current campaign never really got going.
Extra Time Notes
Natalia Arroyo’s departure is another significant moment for Aston Villa Women, particularly because the club had hoped to build on last season rather than find itself fighting near the bottom of the table.
The early fixtures have not been easy, with Chelsea and Manchester City among Villa’s opponents, while Tottenham have also made an excellent start to the campaign. However, four games without a win, two heavy defeats and only two points left the club with little momentum.
The challenge now belongs to Brian Sørensen and, eventually, whoever takes the permanent role.
Aston Villa must now find a way forward following Natalia Arroyo’s tenure and ensure another managerial change can lead to greater consistency on the pitch.
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