Dario Vidosic to quit Brighton before WSL start, linked to Angel City
Brighton manager Dario Vidosic, who guided the club to a historic FA Cup final, will step down a week before the WSL season starts, with Angel City reported as his next destination.
Dario Vidosic is set to leave Brighton a little over a week before the start of the new Women’s Super League campaign, multiple sources confirm. The announcement comes as the club prepares to host Arsenal on 6 September, the opening fixture of the season.
The 39‑year‑old Croatia‑born Australian has been in charge for two seasons, steering Brighton to its first Wembley appearance in the May Women’s FA Cup final. Under his guidance the side achieved a fifth‑place finish in the top flight in 2025 before slipping to seventh last term, earning admiration from supporters and the squad alike.
Vidosic is understood to be the frontrunner for the Angel City head‑coach vacancy, with the Los Angeles outfit planning to install a new manager ahead of the 2027 NWSL season. Angel City have been led on an interim basis by Leif Smerud since Alexander Straus’s departure in June, and sit ninth in the league, two points off the playoff places. The club’s spokesperson said the search for a permanent boss will conclude after the current season.
When a manager departs before a contract expires, clubs typically negotiate compensation and notice periods to offset the abrupt change. Brighton declined to comment on the development, while reports indicate the decision surprised many members of the squad.
Vidosic, who also previously managed Melbourne City Women, will therefore conclude a two‑year spell at Brighton as the club looks to regroup ahead of the upcoming campaign.
