Willie Kirk has left his position as manager of Everton Women, the club has confirmed.
The former Bristol City Women boss joined The Toffees in 2018 and leaves them sat in eighth place in the Women’s Super League.
Willie Kirk Leaves Position as Everton Women Manager
🔵 | Everton can confirm that Willie Kirk has left his position as manager of the Club’s Women’s team.
We would like to thank Willie for his service and wish him well for the future.
— Everton Women (@EvertonWomen) October 16, 2021
Willie Kirk Statement on Everton Exit
In a statement following his exit, Kirk told evertonfc.com: “I am thankful to the club for the opportunity that they gave me three years ago. During that time, we have made tremendous progress both on and off the pitch and I leave the club in a better place. Without a doubt, the highlight was the FA Cup final less than a year ago, a memory that will stay with me forever.
“Unfortunately, this season has not started the way we anticipated, due to a very tough opening fixture list and the re-building of a squad with eight new players.
“I wish the club, the staff and the players my very best wishes.”
Everton’s Lack of Expected Progress
As pointed out by Kirk himself, Everton had a busy summer transfer window. They were then expected by many to be a real candidate for a top-three finish, which would secure Champions League football if they managed it.
They signed nine first-team players in the summer, including Toni Duggan, who started out at Everton before spells at Manchester City, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
There was a clear intention to make further progress in this campaign. However, Kirk’s Everton side had proved to be no match for the apparent top-three clubs in the league.
Facing Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in the first month of a season is hard enough, even more so when you’re trying to put a new team together.
Everton were thrashed by all of them; 4-0 by Manchester City and Chelsea and 3-0 by Jonas Eidevall’s in-form Arsenal.
To make matters worse The Toffees then faced City again in the Conti Cup in midweek, losing 5-1.
The club will now head in a new direction, without Kirk, who had managed to win Everton’s two other league games; 3-1 over Birmingham City and 3-0 v Reading.
Everton Statement on Kirk’s Departure
Everton said in a statement: “Everton can confirm that Willie Kirk has left his position as manager of the club’s women’s team.
“The club would like to thank Willie for his service and wish him well for the future.”
“Everton is aiming to have a new manager in post ahead of the club’s next match away to Leicester City in the Continental Cup on 3 November,” they concluded.
Replacement Reportedly Eyed
Kirk was assistant manager at then-Casey Stoney’s Manchester United when becoming Everton boss. The 43-year-old Scottish coach has previously led Hibernian, Preston Athletic (men) and Bristol City. This season aside, he has done a fair job at Everton and will no doubt be considered for any vacant roles in the coming months.
As for Everton, BBC Sport’s Emma Sanders reports that former Lyon manager Jean-Luc Vasseur is among the candidates to replace Kirk.
Vasseur won the Champions League with the French giants in 2019/20 among other successes, including the league title in France. He was sacked by Lyon in April 2021.
Everton face a trip to Leicester City in the Conti Cup on November 3, before hosting Brighton & Hove Albion in the Women’s Super League on November 6. They will then be tested against the team they were supposed to battle for third or fourth spot in Manchester United on November 14.
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