Meet the Manager: Natalia Arroyo at Aston Villa Women

Aston Villa Women has named Natalia Arroyo as their new manager, a former defender from FC Barcelona Femení and ex-manager of Real Sociedad Femenino and the Catalonia national team. In her inaugural campaign, she guided the team to a sixth-place finish in the Women’s Super League.

Introduction

Natalia Arroyo, a talented Spanish manager, has been appointed as the new head coach of Aston Villa Women. She is the second Spaniard to manage the women's side after Unai Emery led the men's team. Arroyo joined The Villans in January 2025 and took over from interim manager Shaun Goater.

Background and Tactics

Arroyo brings a tactical approach that aligns with the club’s previous strategies under Carla Ward, Robert De Pauw, and Shaun Goater. In an interview, she highlighted her vision for the team: 'The style that Carla, Robert, and Shaun tried to put into the team matches quite well with the ideas I have. Coming at the end of January is not ideal for building new things; it will be about energy first and then a tactical dimension.'

Arroyo aims to instill a possession-based game where her players are encouraged to press aggressively when out of possession. 'Hopefully, we can see a team that wants to have the ball, with clear intentions to score as many goals as possible,' she said.

Previous Experience and Transfer Moves

In the 2024/25 campaign, Arroyo led Aston Villa Women to finish sixth in the Women’s Super League. This was an improvement from their seventh-place finish in the previous season. Her team lost top scorer Kristy Hanson during the summer transfer window but bolstered their squad by signing Amelie Vangsgaard from Juventus and Mathilde Harviken, a teammate of hers at Real Sociedad Femenino.

Arroyo's managerial career began when she was appointed as Catalonia’s national women’s team manager in 2014. She managed the team until 2019 before joining Real Sociedad Femenino. At Real Sociedad, Arroyo led them to a second-place finish in Liga F 2021/22 and secured a spot in the Women's Champions League. However, her tenure was marked by declining form over the next two seasons.

Personal History

Arroyo’s playing career included stints at FC Barcelona Femení from 2003 to 2006 and Espanyol Femeni before retiring due to injuries in 2009. Her managerial experience also includes a brief stint with Real Sociedad, where she guided them to the Copa de la Reina final but was ultimately unsuccessful.

With her appointment at Aston Villa Women, Arroyo aims to lead the team back to higher finishes and solidify their position in the Women’s Super League.