Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall quits following tough week that included Chelsea defeat and fan unrest
Jonas Eidevall has resigned as Arsenal Women's head coach with immediate effect.
Eidevall joined the Gunners in June 2021 and had led the north London club to two FA Women's League Cup wins, while also leading them to the Champions League semi-finals in 2022/23.
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But Arsenal have endured a difficult start to this season and his departure comes after a week where they drew with Everton and lost to Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
During the 2-1 defeat to the Blues at the Emirates, one fan was seen waving a P45, while others booed.
And after the game the two-word message 'Jonas Out' was seen graffitied on Hornsey Road.
Arsenal have won just two of their last seven matches across all competitions and have picked up just five points from their opening four matches in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
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Assistant head coach Renée Slegers will take charge on an interim basis, while Arsenal search for a full-time successor to Eidevall,
Sporting Director Edu Gaspar 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.”
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Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Jonas for his hard work and dedication to Arsenal Football Club over the past three years.
“Jonas has brought us back-to-back trophies in the last two seasons, together with many memorable moments on the pitch.
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“We wish Jonas and his family the best of health, happiness and success for the future.
“We have full confidence in Renée to take responsibility for the team in the interim period."
Eidevall had last signed a three-year contract with the club in October 2023.
Chelsea women's coach Emma Hayes pushes Arsenal women's manager Jonas Eidvall in heated exchange at full-time of the Conti Cup final
However they've been unable to replace Chelsea as top dogs in the WSL during his time in charge.
Arsenal have finished third in the last two WSL campaigns, after finishing second in Eidevall’s first season at the helm.
The Gunners are due to face Valerenga in the Champions League on Tuesday, while they return to league action on Sunday with a key game against West Ham.
England manager Sarina Wiegman gave her reaction to the news at a press conference on Tuesday morning, saying: "I just heard it, to be honest I was a little bit in shock, I didn't expect that.
"Of course that's really sad. I had a good working relationship with him. I was a little bit flabbergasted to be honest."
Jonas Eidevall's Arsenal record
Jonas Eidevall's Arsenal record
- Matches played: 120
- Wins: 80
- Drawn: 16
- Lost 24
- Goals scored: 291
- Goals conceded 99
- Win percentage: 66.67
Trophies
- FA Women’s League Cup: 2022/23, 2023/24
When then asked about fans having wanted Eidevall to go and if the extent to which his future was talked about was something she had seen before in the women's game, Wiegman said: "The game is growing so much, and is visible so much, and of course now a few clubs in the Champions League, it is getting bigger and bigger.
"So you see that coming too, that's also become part of the game, and unfortunately this is a negative one. Lots of things are very positive, but also some negative things are coming with that too."