Heart of Midlothian have moved quickly to fill the void left by Eva Olid, confirming Andy Thomson as the new head coach of their Scottish Women's Premier League-winning side. The 55-year-old arrives from Rangers, where he had been serving as assistant coach of the women's team since the start of 2025.

Thomson takes the reins at a club riding the crest of a wave. Olid, the Spaniard who masterminded a remarkable rise from relative obscurity to the summit of the Scottish women's game, departed after delivering Hearts their first-ever women's top-flight title — secured in her final match in charge. It is a hard act to follow, but Thomson arrives with a solid grounding in the Scottish game at both men's and women's level.

A coaching career built across Scottish football

As a player, Thomson was a forward who turned out for Queen of the South, Partick Thistle, Falkirk, Stenhousemuir and four English clubs, among them Queens Park Rangers. He stepped into coaching with the University of Strathclyde men's team before taking his career in a new direction, working with Caledonian Braves and the University of Stirling.

His profile in the women's game grew significantly through his time assisting Shelley Kerr during her tenure with Scotland Women. That international experience at senior level will be seen as a key credential as he prepares to lead a side that now has a target on its back. He also held the role of football development manager at Motherwell before linking up with Rangers earlier this year.

The challenge of defending the title

Inheriting champions is one thing — keeping them there is another. Hearts begin the defence of their SWPL crown in mid-August, giving Thomson a matter of weeks to put his stamp on the squad and prepare his side for a league campaign in which every opponent will be gunning for them.

The noises out of Tynecastle suggest the club are committed to building on what Olid started, and the appointment of a coach with national-team experience signals ambition rather than mere caretaker thinking. Thomson will be expected not only to maintain standards but to push them higher in Europe as the club looks to make its mark on the continental stage.

For the SWPL, the appointment is another indicator of the growing seriousness with which clubs are approaching coaching structures in the women's game. Hearts, once amateurs, are now title holders searching for back-to-back glory — and Thomson has been handed the job of making that happen.

FAQs

Frequently asked

Who is Andy Thomson, the new Hearts women's manager?
Andy Thomson is a 55-year-old Scottish coach who most recently served as assistant coach of Rangers Women. He previously assisted Shelley Kerr with the Scotland Women's national team and has also worked with University of Strathclyde, Caledonian Braves, University of Stirling and Motherwell.
Why did Eva Olid leave Hearts Women?
Eva Olid left Hearts after leading the club to their first-ever Scottish Women's Premier League title. Her final match in charge was the one that clinched the championship, and she departed following that historic achievement.
When do Hearts Women start their SWPL title defence?
Hearts are scheduled to begin defending their Scottish Women's Premier League title in mid-August 2025.