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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Suzanne Wrack

Tottenham sack women’s head coach Robert Vilahamn after two years in charge

Robert Vilahamn watches Tottenham play Manchester United in the WSL in February
Robert Vilahamn has been dismissed after failing to build on Spurs’ 2023-24 progress. Photograph: Joe Toth/Tottenham Hotspur FC/Shutterstock

Tottenham have sacked Robert Vilahamn as their women’s manager, two days after Ange Postecoglou, the men’s team manager, was relieved of his duties.

Vilahamn 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 league finish, prompting the club to give the 42-year-old 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,” Vilahamn said before the 2024 final, which they lost 4-0 against 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 the Spain international Maite Oroz, the 2024‑25 season was a very difficult one. The double loss of the loanee Grace Clinton, who returned to 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 the relegated Crystal Palace.

Andy Rogers, the women’s team managing director, 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.”

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