Vidosic makes shock Brighton exit before WSL season

Brighton has announced the arrival of Arturo Ruiz as their new women's head coach, following Dario Vidosic's abrupt departure. The 29-year-old Spanish coach, who joined Brighton from Real Sociedad, has signed a contract until 2029 but his work permit is still being processed. Vidosic, 45, will leave the club to explore new opportunities, believed to be in the United States, with Angel City being the most likely destination.

Ruiz spent time at Atletico Madrid and Granada CF before taking charge at Real Sociedad and leading them to a third-place finish in Liga F. Brighton's managing director, Zoe Johnson, expressed delight at welcoming Ruiz to the club, praising his track record of developing teams and individuals. Despite the sudden change, Johnson expressed confidence in Ruiz's ability to guide the team into the new WSL season.

Vidosic's exit is a significant blow for Brighton, particularly as they were poised to challenge top WSL sides like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United. The Australian coach led Brighton to a fifth-place finish in his debut season, reaching the Women's FA Cup final for the first time. The club is now left to navigate a managerial transition ahead of the new season, which starts against Arsenal on September 6.