Female Leadership at Aston Villa Women’s Football
"After you," Marisa Ewers says as we enter a doorway on the ground floor of Aston Villa Women’s newly established dedicated women’s facilities at the club’s Bodymoor Heath training ground. Ewers, a former midfielder who ended her playing career at Villa in 2022, is now the club’s director of women’s football. She hopes to inspire other female players to pursue careers beyond the pitch, particularly in leadership roles within football clubs.
As Aston Villa Women prepare to dedicate their upcoming home league game against Manchester City to International Women’s Day, it is notable that several senior leadership roles at the club are held by women. Maggie Murphy joined as managing director earlier this season, joining Ewers and head coach Natalia Arroyo in a rare trio of women occupying these key positions. Additionally, executive board members such as chief people officer Lisa Bailey, head of football administration Sharon Barnhurst, and general counsel Victoria Wilkes further reinforce the club’s female leadership presence.
Ewers, Murphy, and Arroyo collaborate daily on matters concerning Villa’s women’s team, bringing together diverse backgrounds and nationalities.
“That’s a real benefit, also having three women who have experience in women’s football,”Ewers explains.
“We have a really big responsibility in helping other women step into the space. If women see it’s possible at a big club like this, it’s huge.”
Backgrounds and Perspectives of Key Leaders
Natalia Arroyo, a former Barcelona player who transitioned from journalism to coaching, has been Villa’s head coach for just over a year. She emphasizes her focus on capability rather than gender when assessing leadership.
“I’m never looking at people or roles from the gender perspective,”Arroyo states.
“I totally understand we still need to bring this topic on the table and realise this is still an unusual thing. But I’m just seeing a person that is capable is leading us. I celebrate that the club is so natural and brave.”
Murphy brings over 15 years of experience in football management, including serving as chief executive of former second-tier side Lewes FC. Arroyo praises Murphy’s impact since joining Villa.
“When I was Googling her, I was impressed by her CV,”Arroyo says.
“She’s amazing, she brings good energy, so it’s like: ‘Wow, definitely I can learn from her.’ She’s a massive boost for us. She’s doing some great things and she’s just trying to connect all the pieces.”
Murphy’s appointment followed the separation of Villa’s women’s team from the parent company, V Sports, establishing the team as a stand-alone entity.
“Through this separation, it gives us a little bit more autonomy and authority to try and figure out what we want to do,”Murphy explains.
“In the six months that I’ve been here, the first thing we’ve done is try to reconnect with the fans and build that trust, so I’m probably most proud with our relationship with the fans.”
Player Development and Community Engagement
Aston Villa Women measure success in various ways. One notable achievement this season has been the progression of young midfielder Lucia Kendall, who has broken into the England national team. Off the pitch, the club emphasizes community engagement and inclusivity. For the upcoming International Women’s Day match, Villa is partnering with Level Playing Field to highlight experiences of disabled sports fans. The starting lineups will be announced using British Sign Language on the stadium’s big screen, and a guard of honour featuring inspirational women connected to the club will welcome players onto the pitch as part of a networking event.
Support from Male Colleagues and Current Team Performance
Men also play important roles within the club’s setup. Brian Sørensen, former Everton manager, was appointed as the club’s new technical adviser on Tuesday. Arroyo appreciates his football philosophy and collaborative approach.
“I really like his way of seeing football,”she says.
“We were always sharing how he trains and new ideas, how he approaches games. He will be adding massive value. He will be an incredible help for me in the day-by-day.”
Currently, Villa sit ninth in the Women’s Super League, seven points clear of last place and three points shy of a top-half position. Ahead of Sunday’s match against league leaders Manchester City, Arroyo acknowledges the need to improve defensively.
“We need to go back to basics,”she admits, with the memory of conceding seven goals against Tottenham in their previous game still fresh.
Long-Term Ambitions
Looking ahead, the leadership team aims to continue growing the club’s stature and competitiveness. Ewers uses the metaphor of climbing Everest to describe their ambitions.
“What’s Everest? Probably winning titles, winning the Champions League. And now I think we are at base camp. It takes a long time to get to base camp.
We’ve worked really hard to get to this place and I would say we have everything now to really succeed and be successful. It will take some time and the long-term aim is to be that ambitious, competitive team.”
