San Diego Wave FC hires former Arsenal head coach
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Jonas Eidevall left Arsenal and will be the Wave's new head coach. Photo: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
San Diego Wave FC announced Tuesday it hired Jonas Eidevall as the team's next head coach on a three-year deal.
Why it matters: The former Arsenal manager will lead the NWSL club as it enters a new era with a changed front office following a tumultuous year on and off the field.
Catch up quick: The Wave's global search for a permanent head coach began when Casey Stoney was fired in the middle of last season.
- Paul Buckle and former USMNT star Landon Donovan served as interim coaches for the team that finished 10th in the 14-team league and didn't make the playoffs.
- New owners took over with a focus on the future. 2025 will also be Camille Ashton's first full season as general manager and sporting director.
- The club's former president Jill Ellis left in December for a top job with FIFA, following allegations of cultivating a toxic workplace that prompted multiple ongoing lawsuits.
Zoom in: Eidevall joins San Diego after abruptly leaving Arsenal, a Women's Super League club, in October. He was the winningest manager in club history.
- Over three seasons, he led the club to consecutive top-three finishes in the WSL, back-to-back FA Women's League Cup titles in 2023 and 2024, and the semifinals of the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2023.
What they're saying: "I am honored and proud to be named the head coach of San Diego Wave FC," Eidevall said in a statement. "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."
- "San Diego is a city with passionate fans and a vibrant fútbol culture, and I'm eager to contribute to building a winning legacy here," he said.
- "[Eidevall's] experience, tactical expertise, and ability to develop players stood out throughout the process," sporting director Camille Ashton said in a statement, noting his "track record of building teams that are competitive, cohesive, and dynamic."
Between the lines: Eidevall will oversee a reshaped roster without U.S. soccer icon Alex Morgan, who unexpectedly retired in September, and marquee players Abby Dahlkemper, Emily van Egmond and Sofia Jakobsson.
- The team has a crop of young talent, including defender Naomi Girma and midfielder Jaedyn Shaw who were again called up to the national team.
What's next: The 2025 NWSL season begins in March, and the full schedule will be released later in January.
- Fans can watch the Wave at the preseason 2025 Coachella Valley Invitational in February.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the length of Eidevall's deal.