Renée Slegers in the frame as Arsenal Women’s search for manager nears end | OneFootball

Arsenal’s interim head coach, Renée Slegers, is among the candidates in the final round of interviews as the club’s recruitment of a permanent successor to Jonas Eidevall nears its conclusion.

The Dutchwoman has overseen 10 wins from 11 unbeaten matches since stepping into the role after Eidevall’s resignation on 15 October. According to multiple sources, Arsenal could conclude their recruitment process before their next Women’s Super League fixture, at home to Crystal Palace, a week on Sunday. Slegers is preparing the side to host Bristol City in the Women’s FA Cup fourth round this Sunday and has never ruled herself in or out when asked in press conferences.

The process to replace Eidevall is understood to have involved interviewing numerous coaches from around the world, with senior figures at the club feeling the strong form under Slegers has meant they are in safe hands to allow for an extensive and thorough search. Arsenal declined to comment on the recruitment process.

Slegers, 35, is a former Netherlands international midfielder and had been part of Arsenal’s backroom team since 2023. She has previously managed clubs including the Swedish side Rosengård.

On Thursday Slegers was named as the WSL’s manager of the month for December. Arsenal fans have been calling for her to be appointed on a longer-term basis and her work has drawn praise from broadcast pundits. At full time after the win at Liverpool on 15 December, the travelling Arsenal fans were singing Slegers’ name.

Arsenal are third in the WSL, seven points behind the leaders, Chelsea. They finished in that position last season under Eidevall, who was named as the head coach of San Diego Wave on Tuesday and said his departure from Arsenal had been needed to lift “a cloud” over the club.

Header image: [Photograph: Massimo Pinca/Reuters]