Having arrived in Edinburgh as a virtual unknown, Olid transformed Hearts during her five years in charge.
Hearts have never been one of the main players in Scotland. When Olid left in May, they were top of the pile.
She did that thanks to a full-frontal attacking approach, based usually around a 3-4-3 formation, with her goalkeeper expected to play a key part as a fourth defender.
Hearts were top scorers in the SWPL last season with 85 goals – only Rangers with 80 were within 20 of them – so United’s frontline of Ella Toone, Lea Schuller and Elisabeth Terland can hope for plenty of chances next season.
She also developed a plan B. Having failed to beat Glasgow City across her first four seasons, Olid purposefully went defensive in April’s meeting and secured a 1-0 win to go top of the table.
That was the game where she announced her intention to leave, saying she could not have gone without tasting victory against them at least once.
Former Hearts captain Georgia Hunter swapped Edinburgh for Ipswich this summer and was glowing about her old boss.
“She’s a great manager, very, very good,” she told BBC Sport. “I learnt so much. The transition with all the players and [where] she took the club to is absolutely amazing.”
Olid has a track record of developing young players too, including the Husband twins Erin and Jess, who both made their debuts under her aged 15, and United have suggested this will be important in her new role.
“Eva is the perfect coach to lead us into an exciting new era – she shares our commitment to developing exciting homegrown and young players,” said United’s director of women’s football Matt Johnson.
Given Olid has also spent time working with the Scotland women’s national team, BBC Sport Scotland’s Amy Canavan was not surprised to see her secure a high profile job.
“We were convinced she had somewhere special to go,” Canavan said. “She 100% deserves this chance and is ready for it.”
