For the blue half of Manchester, the long wait is finally over. Following Arsenal’s draw with Brighton on Saturday, Manchester City has officially been crowned Women’s Super League Champions.
While the players will rightly grab the headlines, the true story of this triumph lies with the man in the dugout. After more than a decade of coming close—and a fair share of scrutiny—Gareth Taylor has finally delivered the one trophy that has eluded the club since 2016.
A Decade in the Making
Manchester City has always been a "big" club in the women's game, but for ten long years, they lived in the shadow of Chelsea’s dominance and Arsenal’s historical pedigree. Since their last league title in 2016, City has finished as runners-up on five separate occasions.
Taylor, who took the reins in 2020, faced immense pressure to turn those "silver" finishes into gold. This season, he finally cracked the code, blending tactical evolution with a renewed sense of mental toughness.
The Taylor Blueprint: Three Pillars of Success
How did Taylor transform a team of "nearly-men" into undisputed champions? It came down to three key shifts in strategy:
1. The "Bunny" Evolution
Taylor built the league’s most terrifying attack by centering everything around Khadija "Bunny" Shaw. By refining the service from the wings—specifically through Lauren Hemp and Mary Fowler—Taylor turned Shaw into a record-breaking scoring machine that no defense could contain.
2. Defensive Stability
In previous seasons, City was often criticized for being "too pretty" and vulnerable on the counter. This year, Taylor prioritized a disciplined structure. The partnership of Alex Greenwood and Laia Aleixandri provided a foundation that allowed City to grind out 1–0 wins (like the recent crucial victory over Liverpool) when the goals weren't flowing.
3. Faith in the Process
Perhaps Taylor’s greatest achievement was his resilience. Despite calls for change following a trophy-less 2022/23 campaign, he stayed true to his possession-based philosophy. That patience paid off this year as his squad displayed a level of chemistry and tactical understanding that was levels above the rest of the league.
Taylor’s Career Honors at City
| Trophy | Season |
| Women's Super League | 2025/26 |
| Women's FA Cup | 2019/20 |
| Women's League Cup | 2021/22 |
The Final Step: The Double?
The celebrations might be starting in Manchester, but Gareth Taylor isn’t done yet. On Sunday, May 10, he leads his newly-crowned champions into an FA Cup Semi-Final against Chelsea.
If Taylor can navigate past the former champions, he will be just one game away from securing a historic domestic double—a feat that would cement his legacy as perhaps the greatest manager in the club’s history.
Vindicate
Gareth Taylor has spent years answering questions about whether he was the right man to lead this project. Today, the WSL trophy provides the ultimate answer. He didn't just build a winning team; he built a champion culture that finally stood the test of a grueling season.