San Diego Wave hires Jonas Eidevall as new head coach
San Diego Wave has hired Jonas Eidevall as its new head coach.
The former Arsenal head coach joins the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side on a three-year contract.
He had been out of football since parting ways with the Women’s Super League (WSL) club back in October.
The Wave has been looking for a new permanent head coach since Casey Stoney departed midway through the 2024 season. Paul Buckle and then Landon Donovan, the former USMNT forward, have been in interim charge since.
“This is a club with a clear vision for success, both on and off the field, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me to lead this talented team by the Leichtman-Levine Family and (sporting director) Camille Ashton,” Eidevall said. “San Diego is a city with passionate fans and a vibrant futbol culture, and I’m eager to contribute to building a winning legacy here.”
Eidevall left Arsenal after just seven games of the 2024-25 season despite signing a three-year contract with the north London club in October of 2023.
He joined Arsenal from Swedish side Rosengard in 2021 and went on to win the League Cup in both 2023 and 2024.
Arsenal were unable to dislodge Chelsea as the top team in England during his tenure, however, with their London rivals, under now-U.S. women’s national team coach Emma Hayes, winning the title in each of his three seasons in charge.
“Jonas’s arrival marks the beginning of a new era for San Diego Wave FC,” said owner Lauren Leichtman. “His leadership, vision, and track record of success make him an excellent fit for this role to guide our club forward. We are excited for this next chapter and are confident Jonas will build a culture within the team that not only competes for championships but also inspires our fans and represents the values of San Diego.”
The Wave finished the 2024 season 10th in the NWSL standings, failing to qualify for the playoffs, and saw Wave and USWNT icon Alex Morgan retire.
The club’s president Jill Ellis, the former United States head coach, left her role in December to become chief football officer at FIFA. Ellis, 58, had been Wave’s president since the club joined the NWSL in 2021.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Arsenal, San Diego Wave, Soccer, NWSL, UK Women's Football
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