Manchester United set to make history with first woman in coaching staff

Manchester United are set to appoint Silvia Toja Vinas as the first woman to work on the club’s coaching staff, as Mauricio Pochettino prepares to begin his tenure as manager.

The Spanish sports specialist is expected to join Pochettino at Old Trafford alongside four other members of his staff from the United States national team, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, citing The Guardian.

Pochettino’s coaching team will also include assistant manager Jesus Perez, Miguel D’Agostino, goalkeeper coach Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano Pochettino, the manager’s son and a specialist in sports science. All five have worked with Pochettino for several years and are expected to continue in their roles at Manchester United.

The United States Soccer Federation has confirmed that Pochettino and his staff have ended their association with the national team ahead of their move to the English club. The Argentine is due to start work at Manchester United on 18 November.

His first match in charge is expected to be against Liverpool, with Manchester United travelling to Anfield on 22 November 2026 for a demanding opening Premier League fixture.

Toja Vinas, 46, holds a doctorate in sports science and has an academic background in the subject. She has worked as a lecturer at the National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia and at the University of Barcelona, combining university teaching with expertise in physical preparation.

At club level, she worked in physical preparation with Levante’s women’s team, who compete in Liga F, Spain’s top division in women’s football. The role gave her experience of preparing players for competition at the highest level of the Spanish women’s game.

She joined the United States men’s national team coaching staff in October 2024 during Pochettino’s time as head coach, becoming the first woman to be officially registered as part of the technical staff of the US men’s team.

United’s difficult start

Manchester United dismissed their previous manager Michael Carrick after a disastrous beginning to the season. The club had won only one of its first 10 Premier League matches, leaving them 18th, the first relegation place, with eight points.

In the Champions League, United are 17th in the league phase with six points after two wins and two defeats. They began with a convincing 4-0 victory over Azerbaijani side Sabah, but then lost 2-0 to Atletico Madrid and 4-1 to Como.

A 3-2 victory over Roma in the fourth round lifted United to within two points of 25th place, the final position guaranteeing safety in the competition. They face Sporting Lisbon on 25 November, followed by decisive matches against Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Villarreal, leaving Pochettino with a difficult task to secure qualification.