Aston Villa sack Natalia Arroyo after winless WSL start

Aston Villa have sacked Natalia Arroyo after four games without a win in the Women's Super League, with the club second-bottom on two points.

The defeat that sealed it came at Tottenham on Sunday, a 4-0 loss that followed two draws and another defeat from the opening four fixtures. Arroyo, 40, had been in charge since January 2025.

She arrived at a club fighting relegation and kept Villa up, then took them to ninth last season, recording credible results against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City along the way. That campaign still finished with four straight defeats, and this season has picked up where it left off.

«Everyone at Aston Villa would like to thank Natalia for her efforts and wish her all the best in her future endeavours,».

Brian Sørensen, the former Everton boss now working as Villa's women's technical advisor, takes interim charge. He is in the dugout for Wednesday's Subway Players Cup tie against Newcastle United and could remain there for the visit of Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Villa strengthened over the summer, bringing in Mathilde Harviken and Amalie Vangsgaard from Juventus among other arrivals, which sharpens the contrast with a squad now sitting one place above the relegation zone. Brighton, Birmingham and Charlton are the other three sides yet to win this season.

Sørensen's WSL experience with Everton gives Villa a familiar hand for the short term, though the club has not indicated how long the interim arrangement will run or when a permanent appointment might follow.