Arsenal Managerial Search: Examining the Leading Contenders

Former Arsenal striker Ellen White has stated her belief that Nick Cushing is an “incredible candidate” for the Women’s Super League club’s vacant managerial position, while Jen Beattie has affirmed that interim boss Renee Slegers “knows she is ready for it.” The Gunners are in the process of finding a successor for Jonas Eidevall, who resigned in October. New York City head coach Cushing emerged as an early prospect for the role, but he is currently managing play-off matches in the United States during November. Slegers has been leading the Gunners since Eidevall’s departure and is set to remain in charge until at least December. BBC Sport provides an overview of two of the individuals being considered for the job. Cushing, previously manager of Manchester City, has a track record of securing silverware in England. He joined the club in 2008, advancing through academy roles before becoming the senior team’s head coach in 2013. He guided the club to its first and only WSL title in 2016 and secured an additional five trophies during his leadership. In 2017, Cushing was shortlisted for the England women’s national team job but withdrew from the selection process before Phil Neville was appointed to the role. He left City in February 2020 to take on the assistant manager’s position at New York City, subsequently becoming head coach in 2022. He is currently overseeing the best-of-three MLS series play-offs against Cincinnati. Both teams have won one match each, and the victor of their 9 November tie will advance to the semi-finals, with the MLS Cup scheduled for 7 December. Jen Beattie, a former Arsenal defender, played under Cushing for four seasons at Manchester City. She was a member of the 2016 WSL-winning squad and also won two FA Cups and two League Cups under his management. “I can’t speak higher for Nick Cushing,” Beattie told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Women’s Football Weekly podcast. “He is without a doubt one of the best coaches I have ever had. I absolutely loved my time at Man City and playing under him. When Nick left the WSL to go and coach in the MLS, I always thought he would be an unbelievable fit for Arsenal. He was intense when he needed to be and he was so fun when he didn’t. He was really casual and approachable on a day-to-day basis. But when the focus needed to be there he was strict with it. He knew the level and the standard and he would never let the standard slip.” Former Gunners forward Ellen White also played under Cushing at City between May 2019 and January 2020. She remarked: “His detail was phenomenal on the pitch and the technical aspect was incredible. Players who want to thrive, who want to develop, want to learn and want to do well will thrive under him. He wants to improve players but he wants to win things. He has got experience in the WSL, he has won things in the WSL so I think he is an incredible candidate for Arsenal and that brand of football that they want to play. I think he could bring that to Arsenal.” Jen Beattie and Ellen White have discussed one of the prominent contenders for the managerial vacancy. Renee Slegers was a player at Arsenal’s academy from 2006 to 2007, subsequently rejoining the club as a coach in 2023. Slegers, a 35-year-old former Netherlands international, joined Arsenal as Eidevall’s assistant in September 2023. The two were reunited after having worked together at the Swedish club Rosengard, where Slegers later succeeded Eidevall in June 2021, leading them to consecutive titles. Prior to her tenure at Rosengard, Slegers managed Limhamn Bunkeflo and was subsequently appointed as the head coach for Sweden’s Under-23s team. During her playing career, Slegers spent time in the Arsenal academy when she was 17, before returning to her native Netherlands to begin her senior career with Willem II. She went on to play for Swedish sides Djurgardens and Linkopings, making 55 appearances for her country before a serious knee injury ended her career in 2018. In her interim management role at Arsenal, Slegers remains undefeated, having secured two wins and one draw. While she has not publicly commented on her prospects for the permanent position, she did state, ‘I love doing it at the moment’. White commented that Slegers has restored a distinct identity to Arsenal and that her remaining matches present an opportunity for her to make a strong impression. White added, “If she wants to put her name in the hat, this is an opportunity for her to impress as well.” “I really liked the brand of football they were playing [in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Sunday],” White stated. “It felt like it was quite different and more the Arsenal way. They showed a lot of heart and desire.” Beattie played under Slegers when Slegers was a member of Eidevall’s coaching team. Beattie remarked, “As a character she is super cool, calm and collected. She cares so much about the players and staff there, and the whole legacy that Jonas has built. She knows the job at hand and knows how big the task is.” Beattie further added, “If she gets the job she is a great human being, she is a great coach. She was always so approachable, easy to talk to and just loved her football. She wants this big role next and knows she is ready for it.”