Jonas Edvall has spoken about his difficult exit from Arsenal after being appointed as the new National Women's Super League coach (NWSL) San Diego wave side.
The 41-year-old resigned from his position From the Women's Super League (WSL) last October, after a series of disappointing results that prompted fans to demand his dismissal.
Three months later, before Edvall moved across the pond, he stood by his resignation, claiming it was the “right decision”, and also pinpointed the moment he believes fans lost faith in him.
talking to Sports IllustratedEdival revealed: “I think that when we did not renew (Vivian) Miedema’s contract, my relationship at that time with the fans was hurting the team.
“I thought (leaving) was the easiest quick fix for the team to be able to perform again. This was a very difficult personal decision for me to walk away from, but sometimes you have to do it when that's what you think is best for me.” I also preach to any team that you have to do what is best for the team.
Arsenal were heavily criticized when they revealed this Miedema's contract will not be renewedwhich eventually saw her departure as a free agent. At the time, the Manchester City striker was now the WSL's all-time top scorer, scoring a total of 79 goals.
Edival added: “Sometimes you lose as an individual, but if everyone always commits to making the best decisions, everyone will win in the end, and this time my decision was to make the hardest decision.”
He added: “I think this was the right decision for me personally and I think the team is playing well, so I'm really happy.”
Although the Wave have already begun their search for a new head coach, it is understood the club became interested in Edival immediately after he left Arsenal.
Athletic Director and General Manager Camille Ashton said Sports Illustrated: “We conducted a very extensive search for a head coach starting last summer. Jonas was not part of the picture at that stage because he was not available, but we carried on and when things changed, he became an option for us straight away.”
Although they were founded only four years ago, the Wave have had a checkered history in the world of women's football. Former WSL Chairman Casey Stoney helped write history for the club, leading them to win the 2023 NWSL Shield and the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup.
However, after a seven-game winless streak, she was sacked midway through the season, shocking women's football. The Wave went on to finish their 2024 campaign under interim manager Landon Donovan, finishing 10th in the league.
But with a new leader at the helm, Edival is ready to hit the ground running. “It depends on the visa when I am eligible to come to the United States, but I am used to having flexible starts for training,” he added.
“When I joined Arsenal, it was during the Covid-19 crisis and I was also still under contract with my Swedish club (FC Rosengård). 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 connection with the players and staff. It's about getting to know them as people and who they are, what's important to them, what motivates them, so that other players and staff can help them achieve that.
“That's the process that starts now. It's building relationships, and for me that's the foundation of how challenging we can be and how competitive we can be later in the season. One of the things that really motivates me as someone who works in those environments, is getting to know people and understanding how I can Be a part of helping that person achieve their potential.
“There is no doubt that every person is unique and has their own journey and this must be understood.”
