Joe Montemurro has resigned as Arsenal Women’s manager and will leave at end of this season.
Montemurro’s decision to depart comes as Arsenal sit fourth in the Women’s Super League (WSL) as they chase the last qualifying position for next season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Upon leaving the club this summer, Montemurro will take a sabbatical in order to ‘recharge’ following almost four full seasons in charge of Arsenal Women and to spend more time with his family.
Speaking on his decision to move on, Montemurro said; “My three-and-a-half years at Arsenal have been a fantastic adventure, the highlight of my coaching career…”
Montemurro also admitted that leaving Arsenal and their Women’s Team is his ‘hardest professional decision’ to have ever undertaken due to the fact that he ‘absolutely love this job and this club’ of which he has supported from childhood.
He also praised Arsenal for their handling throughout his time at the club and supporting his decision, saying; “I’m hugely grateful to the club for their unrelenting support during my time here and in understanding and respecting my decision.”
Having guided Arsenal Women to the 2017-18 Women’s League Cup and the WSL title in 2018-19 season, Montemurro hailed the club as ‘a leader in women’s football’ and vowed to continue supporting them as one of many ‘passionate and enduring’ fans.
Arsenal in turn paid tribute to Montemurro for his work and especially through the last year as the club navigated the Coronavirus pandemic.
Arsenal Chief Executive, Vinai Venkatesham spoke of how “disappointed” the club is to see Montemurro leave at end of season, whilst totally understanding and respecting his decision.
Venkatesham also spoke on how Montemurro’s tenure will benefit the club in coming seasons, saying; “Joe has made a huge impact during his time with us and we look forward to building on his legacy and taking the club to more success in the future.”
Next season also sees the start of a new major broadcasting deal for the WSL, which Venkatesham believes is “an exciting new era” for the sport and that Montemurro’s work is of huge importance, adding; “… thanks to Joe’s outstanding work, Arsenal is well placed to be as much a force in the future as it has been in the past.”
Montemurro will depart the club officially on 31 May with a search for his replacement set to get underway with immediate effect.
Who Could Replace Montemurro?
Having developed Arsenal into a top women’s team with quality players like Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema mixed with emerging youngsters like Lotte Wubben-Moy, Montemurro will be a tough act to follow.
Arsenal therefore will certainly face a challenge in finding someone who will be able to take the club forward in terms of challenging for titles, yet continue to develop top young talent at the same time.
For many, two-time World Cup winning former USA manager, Jill Ellis probably springs to mind, but she is currently linked with a position at Sacramento so will certainly require some luring and a huge financial pay packet to persuade her to make a switch back to England.
Arsenal however could go bold and signal a statement of ambitious intent and eye up a top European manager within the Women’s game like Barcelona’s Lluis Cortes or Jean-Luc Vasseur of Lyon if want to retain star players like Mead and Miedema.
Ex Manchester City Women manager, Nick Cushing could well be an option if want a manager with proven WSL experience and success, although whoever comes in will certainly represent what we can expect from the Gunners in coming season.
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