Tottenham have sacked their women’s manager, Robert Vilahamn, two days after the men’s team manager, Ange Postecoglou, was relieved of his duties.
The 42-year-old joined Spurs in 2023 from the Swedish side BK Hacken and led them to a first FA Cup final in his first season in charge.
Tottenham finished sixth in the Women’s Super League that season, one point and one place below their best ever league finish, prompting the club to give him a three-year contract extension last July. The future had looked bright, with the manager adamant that their 2024 FA Cup run could catapult their growth.
“We perhaps shouldn’t be in the final this year, but we are in the final and we can win it,” he said before the 2024 final, which they lost 0-4 to Manchester United. “That’s the main thing we can try to do and if we fail, hopefully we are starting to grow for next year.”
However, after nine new signings in the summer, including the Australian forward Hayley Raso and Spain international Maite Oroz, the 2024-25 season was a very difficult one. The double loss of the loanee Grace Clinton, who returned to Manchester United, and Celin Bizet, who joined Clinton in Manchester, were huge blows and the team did not get close to matching the standards set the preceding year. They finished second from bottom, conceding 44 goals, a tally matched by Aston Villa and beaten only by relegated Crystal Palace.
The managing director of the women’s team, Andy Rogers, said: “There have been some special moments during Robert’s tenure, including reaching the FA Cup final for the first time.
“However, results and performances this season have not been to the level we would expect and now is the right time to make a change. We should like to thank Robert for his professionalism and efforts over the past two seasons, and we wish him well for the future.”