Renee Slegers made her first media appearance after being appointed Arsenal head coach on a permanent basis, saying she was “very happy” to get the job.
Confirmation that Slegers got the position of head coach until the end of the 2025/26 season. he arrived on Friday morning, after what was said to be a thorough process carried out by the club.
“I’m very happy to be sitting here now and we all made the decision together to move forward like this,” beamed Slegers. “I just saw what the players were doing and how we connected with the staff, the club and the fans. So that really influenced my decision to want the job.”
“When I was thrown into it, it was very sudden, it was very unexpected and I was just here to serve the club. That’s when my spell as a temporary player started to grow, it started to get longer. That’s when you started to see where we were going as a team and a connection with the fans.”
Here to stay with Arsenal ❤️
Renée Slegers is officially our permanent head coach. pic.twitter.com/u6j53jBekJ
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) January 17, 2025
The Gunners have gone on an 11-game unbeaten run since Slegers took over, winning 10 games and drawing just one. Despite the success, the 1-1 draw against United proved to be a turning point in Slegers’ mind.
“In the game against Manchester United, when we didn’t get three points, we got one point, but we played very well and the fans supported and supported us,” she added. “That was a critical moment for me, knowing that there was something we could create here. I’m very happy to be sitting here now.”
After the 35-year-old was thrown into the post Jonas Eidevall resigned from his managerial role in conditions believed to be unexpected. Despite the haphazard process, the Dutch boss has drawn positives from a chaotic period.
“There was a lot of learning during that period,” Slegers said. “It was a role I had never done before, so it was interesting for me to see how I could accept such a role. There was a lot of enjoyment, I tried to create a light atmosphere in which pleasure and togetherness are very important. I tried to empower the players and the staff.”
Leah Williamson heaped praise on Slegers after the appointment was confirmed, expressing how the head coach has helped her strengthen her “mentality” in recent months.
“I feel like before, we had a misunderstanding of my passion and the impact it had on the people around me, the impact it might have had on my performance,” Williamson admitted. “I appreciate that, because I feel like she looked at me, saw me and criticized me, but in a good way.”
The English captain has previously stated about the environment the head coach has fostered, saying she’s been “so happy to come to work” since Slegers took over.
Williamson echoed that sentiment once again: “I’m glad she got the job. Obviously, the results were great, but the environment was nice. It’s a nice place to come to work, which is important. I think her biggest strength is or is quality in that role her empowerment and the way it naturally worked.”
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