‘There are some small tweaks and some things we want to work on that we have discussed with the players this morning. But in general, we want to build on the foundations that is here and the players have been involved in identifying that foundation and who we want to be as Arsenal Women.’
These were the words of Arsenal Interim Boss Renee Slegers off the back of the October international break and ahead of the visit to Manchester United. Slegers took temporary charge of the team for the last two games of the October block and had little to no time to do anything other than focus on the absolute immediacy of games against West Ham and Valerenga.
The international break gave Slegers time to pause and she has made some small tactical tweaks. As an interim she has neither the time nor the authority to make sweeping changes and having worked with Jonas Eidevall in Sweden and having been brought to Arsenal by Eidevall, it is clear their footballing philosophies are aligned.
In her first post-match press conference after the Valerenga game, Slegers told Arseblog News, ‘I think we can have a look at how we defend the space behind the defensive line a little better.’ She has since brought Steph Catley into the starting line-up at centre-half to help with that and it has worked well to this point.
The job of interim manager vastly differs to being the permanent appointee and Slegers has been smart to recognise this. Her previous role saw her working with players on a one-on-one coaching basis, pulling up clips and going through them with individual players.
Jonas Eidevall explained to Arseblog News last season, in the wake of coaching hires like Renee, Kelly Smith and Lydia Bedford, that the benefits of having more female coaches includes the closer links they can forge with female players. Male coaches are not allowed in the changing rooms at training or at games for safeguarding reasons (this is why you often see post-match debriefs take place on the pitch in the WSL).
Eidevall explained that, from a logistical point of view, more coaching staff who can be present in that environment promotes more natural links between players and staff. It might also have been an acknowledgement on Eidevall’s part that his ability to relate to players might not have been his strongest suit (which isn’t a criticism, all of us have strengths and weaknesses).
In short, Slegers has transitioned from a role that relied heavily on coaching players on an individual basis and forming close professional bonds with them into a role where she was overseeing a group of players for whom confidence had clearly become a significant issue. From her utterances in press conferences so far, it seems Slegers has leant into that strength.
‘That is something we talk about with the players too, to live as much as possible in the here and now because that is what we can impact for them. The future is uncertain so let’s be in the here and now because that is what is going to help us…The players spoke a lot about accountability and I think it is easy to bring it in short moments but it is important now to do it for a long time and the next step is going to be doing that.’
This is what she said prior to the 2-0 victory at West Ham in October. She talked about what essentially looks like a player empowerment (and accountability) approach, which fits snugly into her previous role. But it’s also been a pretty smart short-term move to reconnect the players with their confidence again.
At 35, Slegers has recent playing experience in women’s football and she was a Dutch international, something Beth Mead cited as an important factor speaking prior to the 4-0 win at Juventus, ‘Renee was a player and she understands sometimes you have these kind of moments in your career. We sat down, we have worked on things on the pitch that I can improve on, I can work more on. Sometimes you need it in black and white.’
Slegers’ short term goal was to stabilise the team and the single biggest assignment was to boost player confidence. It sounds as though she has deliberately taken a step back towards the playing group but made it clear, in doing so, that the players bear responsibility and accountability too. When asked about Frida Maanum’s form this season by Sophie Downey from Girls on the Ball last night, Slegers’ answer again revealed how much her thinking is aligned to player development.
‘She is a very hard working player and a player that takes ownership of her own development and what she can contribute to the team. As a coaching staff we have a lot of discussions with Frida so I am really happy for her, you always wish the best for players who work really hard and take ownership of things, they deserve to be successful.’
In the short term, Slegers has been well suited to the interim task using the skills she was evidently employed by Eidevall and Arsenal for in the first place. Certainly in press conferences, her demeanour has been very calm. Her pre-match rituals do not seem to have changed, she still takes part in the player warm-up pre-game in the same way and consistently refers to her whole staff, keeping that stable connection to her previous role and not looking to set herself apart.
Long term, the next coach will have a little bit more blue sky thinking to do about a long-term playing philosophy, squad construction, culture and environment etc. (I am not suggesting Slegers could not do that too, just that her task as interim is a different project). But Arsenal needed to steady the ship and rebuild player confidence and Slegers has been well-placed for that assignment.
Good piece which broadly states that we were lucky to have Renee in place and available because she has done a remarkable job as morale among the team was in free fall. The ultimate in calm, cool and collected. Give her the job, we could certainly do worst.
A poll on DAZN had 7% voting for Phil Neville. Save us from that please.
Ditto on the 47% who wanted Casey Stoney, IMO
There’s obviously some nefarious state-sponsored clickfarm working round the clock to fix the result. Or at least get him to double figures.
And the natural extension of that is well done Jonas for appointing her. Both in seeing it was a weakness of his and also seeing the requisite skills in Renee.
Probably not the most fashionable thing to say, but needs saying.
I would like to know who this 7% are so I can make sure that I never meet them.
Judging by the number of polls and continuous chat they have on DAZN I honestly believe a lot of people go on there and use it as a social media platform and do not watch the football at all! Any true football fan would never vote for Phil Numpty after his disasterous stint with the National Team!
The biggest advantage Renee has over Jonas ( or other male coaches) is her ability, to empathise with the players as women and as a recent high level performer. Her aura of calmness and humility are also important factors.
Canada has fired their national women coach yesterday. Bev Presman is English, was fired for her brazen do-whatever-it-take-to-win attitude. Didn’t kill anybody so we can get a look at her.
She was less than candid about her role in the drone scandal – that put me off her. I like honesty and accountability in a coach. Plus Canada are a bit dull. Except for Lacasse, of course, who is usually fun, if not always effective.
But she “killed” the dream of some national teams and Canada.
No thanks. Don’t need attention in that form. I’m sure she will get another job somewhere but that dust needs to settle. We don’t see that drama.
Priestman has been banned by FIFA from taking any position until July 2025.
Is it a given that’s she’s not getting the gig full time? Looks to be doing a pretty good job so far.
She fit the role perfectly, I hope the Gods are on our side so that the choice of the new coach is the right one for Arsenal Women.
Thoughtful article.
I like her clarity. I also like her simple, no-fuss solutions. Like Catley at LCB. And it was clever of RS to publicly hail Catley’s bravery after she was kneed in the head against Man United. I think Steph Catley would have really appreciated it. Both those actions are very RS.
Exactly that! The players appreciate being appreciated! How long did we bemoan losing our left footed centre back when the answer was there staring us in the face? I think Renee has what it takes and she will grow in experience and confidence in her role in the same ways that the players do. Keep her in position until at least the end of season and see where that gets us. A domestic trophy or two and a run in the CL after such a crappy start and it would be difficult to bring in someone and expect them to… Read more »
I’ve appreciated Slegers’ demeanor during this time of uncertainty — calm and very earnest. She provides a clarity that most footballers seem to prefer in order to simplify the sometimes complex demands put on them on the pitch.
Also, at the risk of being shunned, I’d like to give Jonas some credit for very deliberately building out a coaching staff with talented people — and women, specifically — who have been able to step up and help the team. He has his faults, but he always seemed to be open to giving opportunities to worthy individuals.
Yes, one of the things he talked a lot about last season was how invigorated he felt working with a coaching group. He explained that, in Sweden, the same level of coaching resource was simply not available and he hadn’t really worked with multiple coaches before and really liked the model.
I am really enjoying her in the role. Sometimes you just take to a person and their vibe. I know football isn’t about vibes, but we needed some good ones and we are getting results.
Given Tim’s comments about not knowing the other coaches before arsenal appointed them – if further down the line, and if she wants to, I don’t see how she couldnt be considered for the role. I know it’s more complicated than that. From a personal perspective , I’d really like a female manager, because there are so few by comparison.
Give her the job til the end of the season, I say. Performances so far deserve it and that’s long enough to get a sense of whether she had what it takes.
Unless there is a great candidate they have in mind now that would be more likely to win the biggest trophies against the best teams in Europe then I agree.
Yes, I think if the manager search doesn’t go as the club want it to, there is certainly stock in appointing Renee till the end of the season, doing some background work with candidates in the meantime but also using it as a sort of trial period. NWSL and Scandinavian seasons ending at the moment I think will hurry the manager recruitment along though.
Renee has shown remarkable capability in the role so far and I see no reason why her contract should not be extended to that of Head Coach. Yes the job is different but it is one that she has done before with some success. There are very few women managers who would be capable of working with our team. You could count them on the fingers of one hand. I am not crazy about male managers, they are frequently abrasive and have a poor understanding of women’s needs and psyche. Also there has been suggestions of bullying which I find… Read more »