Jonas Eidevall has resigned as the Arsenal head coach, the Women’s Super League club have announced.
The Swede had been in charge since 2021, winning the League Cup twice, but had been under intense pressure after last Wednesday’s heavy defeat by Bayern Munich in the Women’s Champions League and Saturday’s WSL loss at home to Chelsea. Arsenal had drawn their previous WSL game at home to Everton.
“We can confirm that Jonas Eidevall has resigned from his position as head coach of our women’s first team and leaves us with immediate effect,” Arsenal said.
Eidevall’s resignation comes the day before Arsenal’s European fixture at home to Vålerenga. The first-team assistant coach Renée Slegers will take interim charge of at least that match and Sunday’s at West Ham. The club confirmed their search for a head coach was under way.
Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, said: “We thank Jonas for his commitment to the club and achievements here since joining us in 2021. We have great respect for the dedication and commitment he showed to our women’s first team and recognise the role he has played in the growth and development of Arsenal Women. We all wish him the very best for the future.
“Our focus will now turn to the process of appointing a new head coach, and in the meantime supporting Renée, as she takes interim charge of the team starting with two important fixtures this week.”
Eidevall oversaw a second-placed finish and two third-placed finishes in his three full seasons, and reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2023, but his popularity among fans appeared to take a big hit when his side failed to progress past the qualification rounds of last season’s Champions League.
After the first four league games of this season, Arsenal sit sixth with five points after one win, two draws and their derby defeat. Speaking after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea, Eidevall said, in response to questions around his future: “I fully understand that people are disappointed when we don’t win football matches and we are also really disappointed. We are really hurting, I’m hurting, the players are hurting. We want to do that better.”
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Reacting to Eidevall’s departure, the England head coach, Sarina Wiegman, said: “I didn’t expect that. It’s sad. It’s always sad. I had a good working relationship with him so I was a little bit flabbergasted.”
Source: theguardian.com
