Brighton have made major progress in recent seasons and invested heavily in the squad, so losing Vidosic will really hurt.
He arrived as a relative unknown in Europe after beginning his coaching journey in Australia.
A two-year stint with Melbourne City showcased his potential, and since joining Brighton he quickly became widely respected within the English game.
His teams played bold, inventive football, though that occasionally came at the cost of consistency.
Even so, across his two seasons they proved they could challenge the WSL’s heavyweights and earned an FA Cup final appearance last year.
Momentum looked strong, especially after the club announced in April plans for Europe’s first purpose-built women’s stadium, an £80m project.
They had also attracted headline signings like England’s Euro 2022 winner Fran Kirby, and added Switzerland captain Lia Walti this summer.
However, the timing of Vidosic’s departure is a significant setback. Instead of pushing on toward the top four, the club now faces a managerial transition.
From Vidosic’s standpoint, the NWSL is one of the world’s premier leagues and likely offers him greater influence over recruitment and the broader project.
Several new arrivals joined to play for Vidosic and his style—so will the current recruitment align with Ruiz’s approach?
The Spaniard has built a strong reputation at home and has a clear philosophy, but he has only days before the WSL season begins.
That likely leaves Brighton on the back foot at the start of a campaign in which they hoped to gather momentum.