When Eva Olid arrived at Hearts in 2021, the Edinburgh club was at its lowest ebb, having finished bottom of the Scottish Women's Premier League and only avoiding relegation due to league expansion. Five years later, the Spaniard has delivered a first-ever SWPL title and a maiden European qualification, completing one of the most remarkable transformations in Scottish football. It is a triumph that few could have predicted when the little-known coach was appointed.
Olid's background was so obscure that her pre-Hearts career remains a blank on her Wikipedia page, but her work in her native Spain and with Houston Dynamo in the United States impressed the Hearts hierarchy. Then-sporting director Joe Savage called her appointment "exciting" and predicted a "top operator." Those words proved prophetic as Olid methodically rebuilt a side that had been perennial strugglers.
The early signs were promising: back-to-back fourth-place finishes as the club transitioned to semi-professional status in 2022-23 hinted at a team on the rise. However, even then, challenging the established trio of Glasgow City, Rangers, and Celtic—clubs with far greater resources—seemed a distant dream. Yet Olid instilled a belief that flourished in the pressure-free environment of an underdog.
This season's turning point came in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Rangers, a result that striker Georgia Timms described as an "eye-opener." Timms, who netted 19 league goals and was named player of the season, noted that the win made the squad realize they could compete with the best. Soon after, Hearts beat Glasgow City for the first time, a statement win that propelled them to the top of the table and convinced the dressing room that a title charge was possible.
"We didn't put any pressure on ourselves, and I think each game, we just believed more and more," Timms explained. Olid herself masterfully deflected expectations onto rivals, saying after a crucial 2-1 win at Rangers in April: "Nobody says we have to win the league; they have to win it because they are Rangers." That psychological edge proved decisive as Hearts navigated the post-split fixtures with a composure that belied their inexperience.
Despite a derby defeat to Hibernian on the final day, City's slip elsewhere confirmed Hearts as champions, sparking wild celebrations. The scenes were a testament to the unity Olid had forged. Players gatecrashed her post-match interviews, their joy and affection for the departing manager palpable. It was a fitting tribute to a coach who, by her own admission, had dedicated her entire life to the cause.
Yet the title triumph is tinged with sadness. Just weeks before lifting the trophy, Olid announced she would leave at the season's end, citing a lack of backing to compete for the title again. Rumours of budget cuts had swirled, and despite her desire to stay, the club appeared unwilling to match her ambitions. "I've dedicated my life to this club for five years," she said. "No personal life, no social life, no days off, no holidays, just fighting for this team." The sacrifice ultimately felt worth it, but her exit raises uncomfortable questions about the club's commitment to the women's game.
Hearts' first SWPL crown guarantees Champions League football next season, a historic achievement that will test the club's infrastructure and resolve. The incoming manager, whoever that may be, inherits a team that has shattered its ceiling but must now cope with the weight of expectation—a pressure Olid's underdogs thrived without. Timms acknowledged that next season "will be a bit more pressure," but expressed confidence that the group knows what it takes.
For now, the focus remains on savouring a moment that seemed unimaginable when Olid took over a side that had dodged relegation by a technicality. Her legacy is secure as the architect of Hearts' greatest season, a coach who eked every ounce of potential from a squad that operated on a fraction of their rivals' budgets. As she departs for her next challenge, she leaves behind a transformed club—and a title that will forever be hers.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
