Hearts lift SWPL trophy for first time in their history
ByAmy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland
When an unknown Eva Olid arrived in Edinburgh back in 2021, Hearts had just finished bottom of the SWPL, only avoiding relegation because of the league's expansion to 10 teams.
To say she has transformed the club in the past five years is a colossal understatement.
Back-to-back fourth-place finishes as the club became semi-professional for the 2022-23 season were pointers towards things to come.
But the triumph they secured on Sunday - a first league title, which brings with it a maiden run out in European football - would have been beyond anyone in maroon's wildest dreams.
Just over six weeks ago - days after Hearts moved to the top of the table by beating Glasgow City for the first time - the Spaniard announced she would be leaving at the end of this season.
The hole she leaves at Hearts is humongous, but what a leaving present she has delivered.
'I've dedicated my life to this club for five years'
When she was unveiled as the replacement for Andy Kirk - who became boss at Highland League side Brechin City - then-sporting director Joe Savage said Olid's application "instantly stood out".
Information about her past was, and still is, scarce - her Wikipedia page has nothing pre-Hearts - but her work in her homeland and in the United States with Houston Dynamo impressed the powers that be in Gorgie.
Savage said it was "an exciting appointment" and the club were getting "a top operator". Both statements have stood the test of her tenure.
"I've dedicated my life to this club for five years," the league-winning manager - who took Hearts to their first and still only Scottish Cup final two years ago - told BBC Scotland.
"No personal life, no social life, no days off, no holidays, just fighting for this team.
"And sometimes I had moments where I thought, 'Is this worth it? Living my life for them.'
"But now I think this is a clear example that it was worth it, living my life for this team. We've had our reward."
'We joked about winning the league'
As recently as the season split, just nine weeks ago, that reward seemed unlikely.
That was through no disrespect to Hearts, but because of the lead Glasgow City, Rangers and Celtic all had, clubs with vastly superior budgets and pressure to deliver.
The latter two components have been continually referred to by Olid and her players during this run-in.
Following their 2-1 win at eventual runners-up Rangers on 24 April, the Hearts head coach piled the pressure on her opponents by saying: "Nobody says we have to win the league; they have to win it because they are Rangers and they are used to winning trophies more than us, we've never won a trophy."
But a phenomenal post-split run, where they only suffered defeat - twice - to city rivals Hibernian, has delivered this sweet maiden success.
Hearts were fourth and trailed Glasgow City by six points before the split
Player of the season Georgia Timms said the lack of expectation has been a huge boost for the group who "jokingly" spoke about going all the way.
"We didn't put any pressure on ourselves, the coaches have been so chilled, and I think each game, we just believed more and more," said striker Timms, who scored 19 league goals.
"One of the biggest turning points for myself was when we won 3-2 against Rangers.
"I think it was a bit of an eye-opener, like, we can compete, and then beating City for the first time, that was an extra bit like 'we can do this'.
"We've talked about winning it, jokingly really, but we're the underdogs.
"Not having that pressure has obviously helped us so much. Next season will be a bit more pressure, but I think we'll be fine. We know what we need to do."
'A rollercoaster that finished on the ultimate high'
Sunday night would not be the night for thinking about next season. Not for the players, anyway.
But things will look very different without Olid in charge. She announced she would be leaving weeks ago in an act of "transparency" and confirmed their would be no U-turn despite their victory.
Very matter-of-factly, she said: "I believe in the destiny, and I think things happen for a reason, so no, I stay with that."
An incredible loss for the club, it leaves the mind boggling even more when the Spaniard said she "wanted to stay".
Cuts to the team's budget had long been rumoured and Olid hinted she wouldn't be getting the backing to compete and contest the title next season.
It's a sad tinge to a superb stint in Scotland for Olid who will not be short of suitors or supporters.
Her players gatecrashed two of her post-match interviews where the spirit, togetherness and love was evident between both parties.
"It's been a rollercoaster," Olid concluded, "but we've finished on the ultimate high."
