How Renée Slegers transformed from a Dutch midfielder into a history-making Arsenal manager
In short: After a playing career defined by both international success and persistent injury, Renée Slegers has redefined her legacy in the dugout. From navigating Swedish football to leading Arsenal to European glory, Slegers has become the first Dutch manager to secure the UEFA Women's Champions League, marking a new era for the club.
Born in Someren-Eind, Renée Slegers began her football journey in mixed-gender youth teams before joining Arsenal’s academy in 2006. Her playing career took her across Europe, with significant tenures at Willem II, Djurgårdens IF, and Linköping FC. Despite earning 55 caps for the Netherlands and competing at UEFA Women's Euro 2013, her time on the pitch was frequently interrupted by injuries, including a pelvic issue that sidelined her for 18 months and a career-ending ACL tear in 2016.
Transitioning into coaching, Slegers spent 12 years in Sweden, where she developed her tactical philosophy while managing IF Limhamn Bunkeflo and FC Rosengård. Her time in Sweden was instrumental, leading Rosengård to consecutive Damallsvenskan titles. This experience caught the attention of Arsenal, where she joined as an assistant in September 2023. Tasked with individual player development, she worked closely with the squad to refine technical positioning and aggression before stepping into the interim head coach role in October 2024.
Slegers’ impact as manager was immediate. During her interim tenure, she orchestrated an eleven-match unbeaten run, securing Arsenal’s place in the Champions League knockout stages. Appointed permanently in January 2025, she guided the team to victory in the 2024–25 UEFA Women's Champions League final against FC Barcelona Femení, ending the club’s 18-year wait for the trophy. By 2026, she added the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup to her honors, cementing her status as one of the world's elite coaches with accolades including the IFFHS World's Best Women's Club Coach award.
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