The Brighton manager, Dario Vidosic, has left the Women’s Super League team a little over a week before the start of the new season “to pursue a new opportunity”, the club have confirmed.
The Guardian understands Vidosic is the leading candidate for the Angel City head coach role with a view to starting work before the 2027 NWSL season.
Vidosic has been in charge of Brighton for two years and led them to their first Wembley appearance in May’s Women’s FA Cup final. The departure of the 39-year-old Croatia-born Australian, which was first reported by the Daily Telegraph, is understood to have surprised many members of Brighton’s squad.
Zoe Johnson, the women’s and girls’ managing director at Brighton, who open their WSL campaign with the visit of Arsenal on 6 September, said: “We would like to thank Dario for his contribution over the past two years. During his time with the club, he led us to our highest-ever WSL finish and our first Women’s FA Cup final.
“We are naturally disappointed but respect his decision to pursue a new challenge and wish him every success for the future. Our priority now is recruiting our new head coach and continuing our preparation ahead of the start of the Women’s Super League season next weekend.”
Vidosic, a former Australia midfielder who has also managed Melbourne City Women, said: “I have loved my time at the Albion and am proud of what we have achieved together. Leaving has been a difficult decision, but I believe it is the right time for me and my family to begin a new chapter.
“I would like to thank the players, staff and supporters for their support throughout my time at the club and wish everyone associated with Albion every success.”
Angel City have been led by their interim head coach, Leif Smerud, the former Crystal Palace manager, since June’s departure of Alexander Straus.
Sources close to Angel City have said the club are very happy with Smerud leading the team for the rest of this season. The Los Angeles-based team are ninth, two points off the playoffs.
Vidosic is understood to be greatly admired by Angel City. The Australian led Brighton to a fifth in England’s top division in 2025, before a seventh-placed finish last term. He has been popular with their supporters and his exit comes as a blow.
A spokesperson for Angel City said: “We are making progress with finalists for our head coach position. We are not planning to appoint a head coach until after the end of this season. We are proud of the team’s development and remain focused on finishing the 2026 season strong.”
The Guardian understands Vidosic is the leading candidate for the Angel City head coach role with a view to starting work before the 2027 NWSL season.
This report is published with credit to theguardian.com. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on theguardian.com →
Source: theguardian.com · Tom Garry. Published 28 Aug 2026, 09:00 am.
