Manchester City Women director of football Nils Nielsen has left the club with immediate effect.
Nielsen, 52, became the club’s first women’s director of football in May last year and steps down after 13 months in the role.
The Danish coach was appointed to lead player development and recruitment across City’s first team but now plans to make a return to coaching.
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Under his tenure, key players such as Lauren Hemp and Khiara Kheating renewed their contracts while Jill Roord also joined the club last summer. Nielsen has also played a role in the signings City are expected to make this summer.
City finished the campaign as Women’s Super League (WSL) runners-up for the seventh time in the last 10 years behind Chelsea, who won the title on goal difference.
Nielsen leaves alongside coaches Shaun Goater and Alan Mahon. Goalkeeper coach Chris Williams, who worked with City’s Golden Glove winner Keating, has also left.
The club confirmed the quartet of departures when contacted by The Athletic.
News of Nielsen’s exit comes three months after head coach Gareth Taylor signed a new three-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2027.
City won the FA Cup in 2020 and the League Cup in 2022, but have not won silverware since Nielsen joined the club.
Prior to City, Nielsen spent four years in charge of the Danish women’s national team, leading them to the final of the European Championship in 2017.
He helped China Women to the final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup as assistant coach before taking charge of Switzerland Women in 2018.
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