On Monday, the Arsenal Women staged a remarkable comeback against West Ham, winning the matchup 4-3. During the game, West Ham took a 2-0 lead within the first 12 minutes, but then Arsenal responded before half time thanks to a Chloe Kelly goal. Although West Ham extended their lead in the second half to 3-1, Arsenal had a strong turnaround within six minutes to take the lead, 4-3, with Katie McCabe, Leah Williamson, and Maria Caldenty scoring goals.
But in addition to the excellence of the players on the field, recently-appointed Head Coach Reneé Slegers deserves credit, too, for her impact and guidance before, during, and after her team’s victory. We highlight Slegers’ impact on her team and how she builds a positive team culture to guide her team towards victory, on and off the field.
Sleger’s Coaching Impact
Slegers is no stranger to Arsenal. She began training as a player in their academy from 2006 to 2007, and then returned as interim head coach during the 2023-2024 season. Now, Slegers is Arsenal’s permanent head coach after a three-month recruitment process, and has led great success. “It’s a wonderful honor to represent this club as head coach and I have so much belief in what we can all achieve together,” Slegers shared upon her new appointment.
When she took over, Arsenal was ranked sixth in the league. Three months later, the team was ranked third. Through her consistency, tactical genius, solidity, calmness, and individual attention to each player, Slegers has coached her team toward success.
“Over the past few months, I’ve felt such a powerful sense of collective ownership and responsibility,” Slegers said. “That has been our strength and I know we will make sure we drive and nurture this feeling.” She strives to build upon this as head coach, leading her team by building and instilling a sense of leadership among her players.
“Over the past few months, I’ve felt such a powerful sense of collective ownership and responsibility…that has been our strength and I know we will make sure we drive and nurture this feeling as we all move forward.”
How Sleger Builds a Positive Team Culture
But it’s not just Slegers’ attention to the game that makes her a strong coach. It’s also her commitment to cultivating and maintaining a positive team culture. Players and staff members highlight Slegers’ ability to empower her players by encouraging them to take ownership over their work. Williamson, a defender on the team, shared that, "In my opinion, I think her greatest strength or quality in that role is the empowerment and the way it has worked naturally.”
In team meetings, Slegers encourages her players to actively engage and share their ideas and input as a strategy of instilling confidence. She individually interacts with her players and discusses their own routes of development to bring out their best, building on her previous experience as an Individual Development Coach (IDP). Conversations with Slegers have been widely described as collaborative and filled with empathy, where players feel heard, respected, and held accountable for their actions.
Arsenal W.F.C. is growing and improving under Slegers’ leadership, which is beginning to be carried over into her players. Her impact on Arsenal reflects the value of women leadership in sports and proves that women can succeed at leading teams at the highest level. Slegers coaches with excellence, empathy, and understanding, and has the track record to back this up.
Spreading the Impact
We can learn a lot from Slegers’ leadership and impact. Like Slegers, teams should aim to incorporate open communication, individual development, accountability, and a culture built on empathy, respect, and trust. While players play an important role in building a positive culture, coaches have an equal, if not greater, role in ensuring that this translates into an environment that can unite and elevate teams to success.
