Arsenal has officially appointed Renee Slegers as their permanent head coach following her remarkable interim spell with the club. The 35-year-old Dutch tactician has signed a contract that will keep her at the helm until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Slegers, who initially joined Arsenal as Jonas Eidevall's assistant in September 2023, took temporary charge after Eidevall's departure in October amid a disappointing start to their Women's Super League campaign. Under her leadership, the Gunners have experienced a dramatic turnaround, securing 10 wins and one draw, while impressively scoring 31 goals and conceding only five.
"I'm so excited to be continuing our journey together," Slegers expressed following her appointment. "It's a wonderful honour to represent this club as head coach and I have so much belief in what we can all achieve together." She particularly emphasized the strong collective spirit that has developed among players and staff during her tenure.
The appointment comes after an extensive three-month recruitment process, during which Arsenal's director of women's football Clare Wheatley identified Slegers as "the standout candidate." Former Manchester City manager Nick Cushing was among the potential candidates but removed himself from consideration in November, confirming his commitment to New York City FC.
Slegers brings a wealth of experience to the role, both as a player and coach. Her connection with Arsenal dates back to her playing days when she trained in the club's academy at age 17. As a player, she represented the Netherlands national team 55 times, scoring 15 goals and participating in the Euro 2009 campaign where the team reached the semi-finals. Her playing career, which included stints with Willem II and Swedish clubs Djurgardens and Linkoping, was cut short by a serious knee injury in 2018.
Before joining Arsenal, Slegers had already proven her coaching credentials in Sweden. She succeeded Eidevall at Rosengard in June 2021, leading the club to consecutive titles. Her coaching journey began with Limhamn Bunkeflo's under-19s, eventually progressing to manage their senior team before taking charge of Sweden's Under-23s.
The appointment has been well-received, particularly given Arsenal's impressive form under her interim leadership. The decision comes at a crucial time for the club as they face increasing competition from Chelsea and Manchester City, who continue to strengthen their positions in women's football. Slegers' appointment represents Arsenal's commitment to maintaining their competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions, with the team already securing their place in the Champions League quarter-finals as Group C winners under her guidance.
