Manchester City Women have parted ways with head coach Gareth Taylor, the club announced on Monday, just five days before their highly anticipated League Cup final against Chelsea. The decision marks the end of Taylorâs nearly five-year tenure with the team, during which he led the squad to notable successes but struggled to maintain consistency in the Womenâs Super League (WSL) this season.
Taylor, 52, took charge of Manchester City Women in 2020, succeeding Nick Cushing, who has now been appointed as interim manager following Taylorâs departure. Under Taylorâs leadership, the team secured the FA Cup in 2020 and the League Cup in 2022, while also achieving two runner-up finishes in the WSL in the 2020-21 and 2023-24 seasons. Despite these accomplishments, the clubâs performance in the current campaign has fallen short of expectations, with City sitting fourth in the WSL table, 12 points behind leaders Chelsea after 16 matches.
The timing of the sacking has raised eyebrows, coming less than a week before a crucial final at Pride Park in Derby on Saturday. The match is the first of four consecutive encounters with Chelsea, including two Champions League semi-final legs and a WSL clash. Sources suggest that the clubâs hierarchy acted swiftly to avoid potential embarrassment in these high-stakes fixtures, opting to bring back Cushing, a familiar figure who previously guided City to multiple trophies.
In an official statement, Manchester City expressed gratitude for Taylorâs contributions. âWe would like to place on record our thanks to Gareth for all of his efforts during his many years at City,â the club said. âOur FA Cup and League Cup triumphs will remain special moments in the history of this football club. We wish him all the best for the future.â Managing Director Charlotte OâNeill added, âManchester City prides itself on competing at the top of the WSL and on its outstanding record of qualifying for European competition. Unfortunately, results this season have so far not reached this high standard.â
Taylorâs exit follows a mixed season for the team. While they advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals with a victory over Aston Villa on Sunday, their league form has been inconsistent, prompting speculation about his future in recent weeks. The decision to sack him now underscores the clubâs determination to recalibrate ahead of a pivotal stretch in their campaign.
Nick Cushing, who managed City Women from 2013 to 2020 before moving to New York City FC in Major League Soccer, returns to the helm on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. His familiarity with the squad and proven track recordâhe led City to their only WSL title in 2016âmake him a stabilizing choice as the club navigates this transitional period.
The managerial shakeup at Manchester City is the latest in a wave of changes across the WSL, with Liverpoolâs Matt Beard and Crystal Palaceâs Laura Kaminski also parting ways with their clubs recently. For City fans, the hope is that Cushingâs return can reignite the teamâs competitive edge, starting with Saturdayâs League Cup final.