Wikipedia

Renée Slegers

Renée Josiena Anna Slegers (Dutch: [rəˈneː joːˈsinaː ˈʔɑnaː ˈsleːɣərs]; born 5 February 1989) is a Dutch football coach and former player, who is currently the head coach of Women's Super League club Arsenal.

Renée Slegers
Slegers in 2024
Personal information
Full name Renée Josiena Anna Slegers[1]
Date of birth (1989-02-05) 5 February 1989 (age 37)
Place of birth Someren-Eind, Netherlands
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Arsenal (head coach)
Youth career
1997–2006 SSE
2006–2007 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2011 Willem II 20 (7)
2011–2012 Djurgårdens IF 33 (4)
2013–2016 Linköping FC 58 (8)
International career‡
2004 Netherlands U15 2 (0)
2005 Netherlands U17 4 (0)
2006–2008 Netherlands U19 30 (3)
2009–2016 Netherlands 55 (15)
Managerial career
2018–2020 IF Limhamn Bunkeflo
2021 Sweden U23
2021–2023 FC Rosengård
2024–2025 Arsenal (interim)
2025– Arsenal
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 December 2018[citation needed]
‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 December 2018[2]

Slegers played as a midfielder, representing Willem II, as well as Swedish Damallsvenskan clubs Djurgårdens IF and Linköping FC. She won 55 caps for the Netherlands women's national football team and appeared at UEFA Women's Euro 2013. After her retirement, Slegers began coaching in Sweden and spent two seasons as head coach of FC Rosengård. She then joined Arsenal in September 2023, serving as assistant coach under Jonas Eidevall, and became the interim coach in October 2024, following Eidevall's resignation. In January 2025, Slegers was permanently named head coach of Arsenal, signing a contract until the end of the 2025–26 season. Five months after that, she guided them into the 2024–25 UEFA Women's Champions League trophy.

Club career

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Youth career

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Slegers started her youth career with local Someren side SSE.[3] In 2006, she moved to England to join Arsenal’s youth academy for the 2006/07 season.[4] She lived and studied at Oaklands College while training with the Arsenal Ladies, where she was coached by Emma Hayes and Kelly Smith.[5] On 24 January 2007, Slegers made a substitute appearance in the quarter-final of the London County Cup, as Arsenal defeated West Ham United 4–0.[6]

Professional career

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In 2007, Slegers returned to the Netherlands to begin her senior career with Willem II in the inaugural season of the Eredivisie Vrouwen.[7] She remained with the club for four seasons and finished as their top scorer in the 2009–10 season, recording five goals in 11 appearances.[8]

In January 2011, she moved to Sweden to sign her first full-time professional contract with Djurgårdens IF.[9] Slegers represented the Damallsvenskan side for two seasons, making 33 appearances and scoring four goals before departing the club following their relegation to the Elitettan in 2012.[10]

Slegers moved to Linköping FC in January 2013, stating a desire to prove herself in the Damallsvenskan after injuries impacted her time at Djurgårdens.[11] At Linköping, she won two Svenska Cupen trophies and the 2016 Damallsvenskan title.

Slegers’ playing career ended following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained on 29 November 2016 while on international duty. After a period of rehabilitation, she formally announced her retirement on 24 February 2018.[12]

International career

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On 5 March 2009, Slegers debuted for the senior Netherlands women's national football team, against Russia in the Cyprus Women's Cup.[2] She was not selected in the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2009, where the Netherlands reached the semi-finals, but was placed on standby in the event of injuries.[13]

In June 2013, national team coach Roger Reijners selected Slegers for the Netherlands squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013 in Sweden.[14] She started all three group stage matches against Germany, Norway, and Iceland.[15] In a 2015 World Cup qualification match on 10 April 2014, Slegers scored five goals in a 10–1 victory over Albania, which included a hat-trick scored in four minutes.[16][17]

In 2015, Slegers missed the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada due to a pelvic injury that kept her out of competitive football for a year and a half.[18] In March 2016, national team coach Arjan van der Laan selected Slegers for the Netherlands squad for the 2016 UEFA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, in which she appeared for the Netherlands in the games against Norway and Sweden.

On 29 November 2016, Slegers made her final appearance in a 0–1 home friendly defeat to England at the Koning Willem II Stadion, where she sustained an ACL injury.[19] She was subsequently ruled out of UEFA Women's Euro 2017, which the Netherlands hosted and won. Slegers later announced her retirement on 24 February 2018.[18] She ended her international career with 55 caps and 15 goals.[20]

Managerial and coaching career

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Early career (2018–2021)

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Slegers coached IF Limhamn Bunkeflo's under-19 team in the 2018 season, leading the team to win the Swedish U19 Women's Championship.[21] She was promoted to head coach of the A-team in November 2018, ahead of the 2019 season.[22] The club finished the 2019 Damallsvenskan season with 14 points, placing 11th in the table, and were relegated to the Elitettan on goal difference.[23] In February 2020, the club withdrew from the Elitettan due to financial difficulties.[24]

During the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, Slegers worked as a scout for the Netherlands national team.[25] Slegers participated in the 2019-21 UEFA Coach Mentor Programme, where she was mentored by then-Arsenal head coach Joe Montemurro. As part of the programme, she undertook a study visit to Arsenal.[26]

In July 2020, Slegers was appointed joint head coach of FC Rosengård 1917 (the club's "B" team) alongside Elena Sadiku.[27] The pair led the team to the 2020 Division 2 Södra Götaland title, securing promotion to Division 1.[28] On 19 March 2021, Slegers was announced as the new head coach of Sweden women's under-23 national team, a role she held concurrently with her position at Rosengård.[29] Following a training camp in June 2021, which involved a win over Finland and a draw against France, she resigned to take over the FC Rosengård senior team.[30]

FC Rosengård (2021–2023)

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On 28 June 2021, Slegers was appointed head coach of FC Rosengård, succeeding Jonas Eidevall mid-way through the season.[31] She led the club to the 2021 Damallsvenskan title and a 2021-22 Svenska Cupen victory, defeating BK Häcken FF 2–1 in the final on 26 May 2022.[32][33] She led Rosengård to a second consecutive Damallsvenskan title in 2022, her first full season in charge.[34] On 17 April 2023, Slegers departed the club by mutual consent after the team recorded one point from the opening three matches of the season.[35][36]

Arsenal (2023–present)

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In September 2023, Slegers joined Arsenal as an assistant coach under Jonas Eidevall.[7] Focused on individual player development, Slegers worked with members of the squad to refine their technical and tactical performance. Defender Lotte Wubben-Moy credited Slegers with helping her develop key areas of her game, specifically her body positioning and aggression.[37]

On 15 October 2024, following Eidevall's resignation as head coach, Slegers took over as interim head coach.[38] During her interim tenure, she led the team to an eleven-match unbeaten run, consisting of ten wins and one draw.[39] Five consecutive group stage victories saw Arsenal qualify for the Women's Champions League quarter-finals as group winners.[40]

On 17 January 2025, Slegers was appointed head coach on a permanent basis, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract.[41] On 24 May 2025, she led Arsenal to their second UEFA Women's Champions League title, defeating FC Barcelona Femení 1–0 in the final.[42] The victory made Slegers the first Dutch manager to win the competition, ending the club’s 18-year wait for a second European title.[43]

On 9 January 2026, it was announced that Slegers had signed a three-year deal until 2029.[44] On 1 February 2026, Slegers guided Arsenal to victory in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup final, defeating Corinthians 3–2 after extra time to become the first Intercontinental Club Champions.[45]

Personal life

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Slegers was born and raised in Someren-Eind, a village in the southeastern part of North Brabant, Netherlands. Growing up alongside two younger brothers, she was inspired to take up football after watching them play, subsequently participating in both boys' and mixed-gender youth teams.[46] She later studied communication sciences and practical philosophy at university.[47]

At the age of 22, Slegers moved to Sweden to play in the Damallsvenskan.[48] She spent 12 years in the country as both a player and a manager, and has stated that she feels "half-Swedish".[49]

Slegers has two children with her partner and former Linköping FC defender, Maja Krantz.[50][51]

Career statistics

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Scores and results list the Netherlands goal tally first.[2]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.21 November 2009Kyocera Stadion, The Hague, Netherlands Belarus1–01–12011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
2.22 April 2010Milano Arena, Kumanovo, Macedonia North Macedonia7–07–0
3.13 June 2010MAC³PARK Stadion, Zwolle, Netherlands Belgium4–14–1Friendly
4.2 March 2011GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus New Zealand4–14–12011 Cyprus Cup
5.4 March 2011Ammochostos Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus France1–02–1
6.26 September 2013Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania Albania4–04–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
7.26 October 2013Estádio José de Carvalho, Maia, Portugal Portugal1–07–0
8.2–0
9.10 April 2014Stadion De Braak, Helmond, Netherlands Albania2–010–1
10.3–0
11.4–0
12.7–1
13.10–1
14.7 May 2014Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium Belgium2–02–0
15.20 October 2016Tony Macaroni Arena, Livingston, Scotland Scotland4–07–0Friendly

Managerial statistics

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As of 16 May 2026
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
P W D L GF GA GD Win %
IF Limhamn Bunkeflo 1 January 2019 22 January 2020 2235141646−30013.64 [52]
FC Rosengård 28 June 2021 17 April 2023 593881314566+79064.41
Arsenal 15 October 2024 Present 745371418666+120071.62
Career total 155942041347178+169060.65

Honours

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References

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  1. ↑ "Goalscorers" (PDF). UEFA. 26 November 2009. p. 4. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Renee Slegers". onsoranje.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "OranjeLeeuwin Renée Slegers beëindigt voetbalcarrière". www.onsoranje.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "Renée Slegers on her journey from Arsenal academy player to Women's Champions League finalist coach". www.uefa.com. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "Every word of Slegers' pre-West Ham presser". www.arsenal.com. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – January 31st 2007, Arsenal Matchday Programme". thearsenalcollection.org.uk. 31 January 2007. p. 36. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Renee Slegers joins as assistant coach". Arsenal F.C. 6 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Netherlands Women Eredivisie 2009/2010 » Top Scorer". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "Stevens, Slegers weg bij Willem II". www.onsoranje.nl (in Dutch). 12 January 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Två nya klara för LFC". corren.se (in Swedish). 4 January 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Slegers: 'Me bewijzen in Zweden'". www.onsoranje.nl (in Dutch). 9 January 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  12. ↑ Derksen, Linda (24 February 2018). "Gestopte Renée Slegers: 'Ik kan vrijer gaan leven'" (in Dutch). Eindhovens Dagblad. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  13. ↑ "Pauw puts final seal on Dutch squad". uefa.com. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ↑ "Trio miss cut in Netherlands squad". UEFA. 30 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  15. ↑ Technical Team. UEFA Women's EURO Sweden 2013: Tournament Review (PDF) (Report). UEFA. p. 48. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  16. ↑ "WK 2015 Kwalificatie" (in Dutch). onsoranje.nl. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ↑ "Unieke hattrick Slegers" (in Dutch). onsoranje.nl. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. 1 2 "Voetbalster Renée Slegers mist EK in eigen land door knieblessure" (in Dutch). Eindhovens Dagblad. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  19. ↑ "Slegers mist EK Vrouwen door zware knieblessure" (in Dutch). KNVB.nl. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  20. ↑ "Afscheid van vier grote OranjeLeeuwinnen" (in Dutch). onsoranje.nl. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  21. ↑ Torner, Ole (21 November 2018). "LB07 lyfter upp Renée Slegers som ny huvudtränare" (in Swedish). Skanesport. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  22. ↑ Dolck Wall, Johan (21 November 2018). "Holländska landslagsprofilen blir tränare för svenska laget" (in Swedish). Expressen. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  23. ↑ "LB07-tränaren om degraderingen: "Spelarna förtjänar mer"". www.fotbollskanalen.se (in Swedish). 26 October 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  24. ↑ "Väntade beslutet klubbat - LB07 drar ut laget ur elitettan: "Värsta beslutet jag varit med om"". www.fotbollskanalen.se (in Swedish). 11 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  25. ↑ "Wissink hoofdscout Oranje Leeuwinnen bij WK in Frankrijk". AD.nl (in Dutch). 29 May 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  26. ↑ "The countless benefits of the UEFA coach mentor programme". www.uefa.com. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  27. ↑ "För fler egna produkter i Sveriges bästa lag!" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  28. ↑ "Dam B klara seriesegrare – division 1 nästa" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  29. ↑ "Reneé Slegers ny U23-förbundskapten". www.svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). 19 March 2021.
  30. ↑ "Renée Slegers ny huvudtränare i FC Rosengård". www.svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). 28 June 2021.
  31. ↑ "Slegers tar över Rosengård: "Rätt steg för mig"". www.svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). 28 June 2021.
  32. 1 2 "Kristianstad tog Europaplatsen". www.svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). 6 November 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. 1 2 "Rosengård vann cupen efter förlängning". www.svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). 26 May 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. 1 2 "Guldet klart för Rosengård". www.svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). 24 October 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ↑ "Ny huvudtränare i FC Rosengård – FC Rosengård" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  36. ↑ "Rosengård sparkar Renée Slegers – Joel Kjetselberg ersätter" (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  37. ↑ Sanders, Emma (21 May 2024). "How Wubben-Moy produced best season of her career". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  38. ↑ "Jonas Eidevall: Arsenal head coach resigns after three years in charge". BBC Sport. 15 October 2024. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  39. ↑ "Slegers' superb 11 games in charge - so far!". www.arsenal.com. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  40. ↑ "Arsenal return to European summit". uefa.com. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  41. ↑ "Arsenal name Slegers head coach on permanent basis". BBC Sport. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  42. 1 2 "Women's Champions League final: Brilliant Arsenal beat Barca to win first title in 18 years". BBC Sport. 24 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  43. ↑ "The facts and stats behind our UWCL win". www.arsenal.com. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  44. ↑ "Renee Slegers: Arsenal head coach signs new three-year deal". BBC Sport. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  45. 1 2 "Arsenal beat Corinthians in first Champions Cup final". BBC Sport. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  46. ↑ Stillman, Tim (24 January 2025). "Arseblog exclusive interview with Arsenal Women head coach Renée Slegers". Arseblog News. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  47. ↑ "Every word of Renee's pre-Crystal Palace presser". Arsenal F.C. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  48. ↑ Stillman, Tim (13 February 2025). "Arsenal Women long read: Renée Slegers in profile". Arseblog News. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  49. ↑ Fagerlund, Frida (27 August 2025). "Arsenaltränaren Renée Slegers i stor intervju: "Känner mig halvsvensk"" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  50. ↑ Salley, Emily (24 May 2025). "'The next Wiegman' - the story of Arsenal manager on brink of history". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  51. ↑ Tempelman, Chris (26 December 2025). "The Next Sarina: maak kennis met de Nederlandse coach die de CL won" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  52. ↑ "Renee Slegers Managerial Stats". footystats.org. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  53. ↑ "Linköping firade guld med guldfest". Aftonbladet. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  54. ↑ "Renée Slegers named WSL Manager of the Month". Arsenal F.C. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  55. ↑ "Slegers wins WSL Manager of the Month for February". Arsenal F.C. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  56. ↑ "Renée wins successive Manager of the Month awards". Arsenal F.C. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  57. ↑ "Slegers wins March's WSL Manager of the Month". Arsenal F.C. 16 April 2026. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  58. ↑ "The Best Awards 2025: All the winners, and who voted for who". FIFA. 16 December 2025.
  59. ↑ "Our 2025 Ballon d'Or results in full". Arsenal F.C. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  60. ↑ "Renee Slegers wins LMA John Duncan Award". Arsenal F.C. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  61. ↑ "IFFHS AWARDS 2025 - RENEE SLEGERS, WOMEN'S WORLD BEST CLUB COACH". IFFHS. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
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