Jonas Eidevall has spoken about his difficult departure from Arsenal after being appointed as the new coach of the National Women's Super League (NWSL) the San Diego Wave side.
The 41-year-old resigned from his post from the Women's Super League (WSL) club last October, following a run of disappointing results that saw fans calling for his sacking.
Three months on and ahead of Eidevall's move across the pond, he has stood by his resignation claiming it was the “right decision” and also highlighted the moment he believes fans lost faith in him.
Speaking of Sports IllustratedEidevall revealed: “I think when we didn't renew (Vivianne) Miedema's contract, my relationship at the time with the fans was hurting the team.
“I thought (leaving) was the easiest quick solution for the team to perform again. It was a very difficult personal decision for me to leave, but sometimes you have to do it when you think it's best for I'm also preaching to every team (that) you have to do what's best for the team.
Arsenal were heavily criticized when they revealed them would not renew Miedema's contractwhich eventually saw her leave as a free agent. At the time, the now Manchester City striker was the WSL's all-time top goalscorer, scoring a total of 79.
“Sometimes you lose as an individual, but if everyone is committed to always making the best decisions, then everyone wins in the end, and this time it was my decision to make the hardest decision,” Eidevall added.
“I think this was the right decision for me, personally, and I think the team played well, so I'm very happy.”
Although Vala had already begun their search for a new manager, it is understood that the club became interested in Eidevall almost immediately after he left Arsenal.
Sporting director and general manager Camille Ashton said Sports Illustrated: “We did a pretty extensive coaching search that started last summer. Jonas wasn't part of the picture at that point because he wasn't available, but we kept going and when things changed, he became an option for us straight away. “
Despite being founded only four years ago, Vala already has quite a solid track record in the world of women's football. Former WSL coach Casey Stoney helped write history for the club, leading them to victory in the 2023 NWSL Shield and 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup.
However, after a seven-match winless streak, she was sacked mid-season, causing shock waves in the women's game. The Wave went on to finish their 2024 campaign under interim manager Landon Donovan, ranked tenth in the league.
But with a new leader at the helm, Eidevall is ready to hit the ground running. “It depends on the visa when I'm eligible to come to the US, but I'm used to having flexible training starts,” he added.
“When I joined Arsenal, it was during COVID-19 and I was also still under contract with my Swedish club (FC Rosengard). We can either get results or make excuses, and I definitely prefer results.
“In the first part of pre-season, it's about building a relationship with the players and the staff. It's about getting to know them as people and who they are, what's important to them and what motivates them, in so that other players and staff can help them achieve it.
“That's the process that starts now. It's building relationships, and to me that's the foundation of how much we can challenge and how much we can compete later in the season. One of the things that really motivates me as a person working in those environments , is getting to know people and understanding how I can be a part of helping that person reach their potential.
“There's no doubt that every person is unique and they have their own journey and that needs to be understood.”