\u201cAfter you,\u201d Marisa Ewers says, as we walk through a doorway on the ground floor of Aston Villa Women\u2019s fresh-looking dedicated women\u2019s facilities at the club\u2019s Bodymoor Heath training ground. It soon becomes clear that Ewers is hoping to open doors figuratively as well as literally by inspiring other female players to follow her and embark on a career in the boardroom.<\/p>\n
The former midfielder ended her career at Villa in 2022 and has progressed to become the club\u2019s director of women\u2019s football. As they prepare to dedicate Sunday\u2019s home league game against Manchester City to International Women\u2019s Day, it is noticeable that Ewers is alongside several other women in senior leadership roles at Villa. The club welcomed Maggie Murphy as managing director earlier this season and in Ewers, Murphy and the head coach, Natalia Arroyo, Villa are a rarity in having those three specific roles all filled by women, even before mentioning executive board members such as the chief people officer, Lisa Bailey, the head of football administration, Sharon Barnhurst, and the general counsel, Victoria Wilkes.<\/p>\n
Ewers, Murphy and Arroyo work together daily in regards to Villa\u2019s women\u2019s team, bringing together three different nationalities and three different career backgrounds. \u201cThat\u2019s a real benefit, also having three women who have experience in women\u2019s football,\u201d says Ewers. \u201cWe have a really big responsibility in helping other women step into the space. If women see it\u2019s possible at a big club like this, it\u2019s huge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arroyo, a former Barcelona player who worked as a journalist before moving into coaching, has been Villa\u2019s head coach for just over a year. \u201cI\u2019m never looking at people or roles from the gender perspective,\u201d she says. \u201cI totally understand we still need to bring this topic on the table and realise this is still an unusual thing. But I\u2019m just seeing a person that is capable is leading us. I celebrate that the club is so natural and brave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maggie Murphy, managing director of Aston Villa women, \u2018brings good energy and is a massive boost for us,\u2019 says Natalia Arroyo. Photograph: Betty Laura Zapata\/Bloomberg\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Murphy arrived at Villa with more than 15 years\u2019 experience in the industry, including a spell as the chief executive of the former second-tier side Lewes FC. \u201cWhen I was Googling her, I was impressed by her CV,\u201d say Arroyo. \u201cShe\u2019s amazing, she brings good energy, so it\u2019s like: \u2018Wow, definitely I can learn from her.\u2019 She\u2019s a massive boost for us. She\u2019s doing some great things and she\u2019s just trying to connect all the pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n