Aston Villa manager Carla Ward has announced she will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
This decision will come as a surprise to many, as the 40-year-old still has a year remaining on her contract.
Ward joined Villa from Birmingham City in 2021 and made an instant impact on the club.
In her first season in charge, Ward led the team to a ninth-place finish before later leading the club to a record-breaking fifth-place positioning in the WSL table.
In 2022/2023, Ward also led the team to the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup final for the first time in club history.
In her three years there, she has brought high-profile players such as Rachel Daly, Jordan Nobbs, and Scotland captain, Rachel Corsie to the club.
It is understood that the President of football operations, Monchi, and Director of football, Damian Vidagany, tried to convince Ward to remain at the club, but she is adamant her decision is the best one for her.
“To step down from my post here at Aston Villa has been the hardest decision of my managerial career, but I know it is the right one for my family and I,” Ward said in a statement on Friday.
“I am immensely grateful to Monchi and Damian Vidagany who tried so hard to encourage me to stay in the role, but I know it is the right time to step down after our last game of the season.”
The club have started the extensive search for a replacement manager, with an advert for the position appearing online. A further update will be given in due course.
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