Slegers appointed permanent Arsenal boss after successful interim spell

Arsenal have confirmed the appointment of Renee Slegers as permanent manager.

Slegers has been in charge on an interim basis since October following the resignation of Jonas Eidevall.

The Women’s Super League side are in third place, seven points behind leaders Chelsea.

And after a successful spell, Slegers will be hoping to kick on and restore the Gunners’ dominance of women’s football.

Speaking for the first time as permanent manager, she said: “I’m very pleased to be sitting here now and together we made the decision to move forward like this.

“I’ve just seen what the players have been doing and how we’ve connected with the staff, the club and the fans as well. That’s very much involved in my decision to want the job because obviously when I took the plunge it was very sudden, it was very unexpected, and I was here to serve the club, but then during my period as an interim, began to grow. .

Here to stay with The Arsenal ❤️

Renée Slegers is officially our permanent coach. pic.twitter.com/u6j53jBekJ

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) January 17, 2025

“You start looking at things in the long term and you see where we were going as a team and also the connection with the fans.

“I think I mentioned the game against Manchester United where we didn’t get three points, we got a point, but we’re doing really well and the fans are rooting for us and supporting us. I think it’s also been a critical moment for me to see, okay, there’s something we can create here. There is something positive we can create. It has been growing during these months.

“Obviously, (interim head coach) is a role I’ve never played before, so it’s interesting to see how you take on a role like that when a head coach leaves all of a sudden.

“I think the next day we had the game against Valerenga, so we had to start straight away. So it’s been a lot of learning for me, but it’s been full of enjoyment. (I’m tired) to create a light atmosphere where enjoyment, coexistence is very important to try to empower players, staff, and it’s been interesting. I have enjoyed my time in the interim role.”