FanSided MLS
·6 January 2025
FanSided MLS
·6 January 2025
According to The Athletic, San Diego Wave is close to naming Jonas Eidevall as their new head coach on a three-year contract. After the tough season they've had, the club wants to go in another direction. It's the complete opposite for Eidevall in the NWSL after an up-and-down time with Arsenal, finding success but unable to get around the best teams in English women's soccer.
The 2024 season was one of the most complicated ones during San Diego Wave's short history. The team finished 10th in the standings, out of playoffs, with an underwhelming performance. It was the end of an era with the retirement of Alex Morgan, one of the greatest names in women's soccer, and the departure of Jill Ellis, the former USWNT coach and a central figure in the club's management.
Now owned by the Levine Leichtman family, who bought the club for a record $120 million, a new era awaits the Wave. The appointment of Eidevall represents the first step in restructuring a project still chasing consistency on the pitch and a solid identity off it.
At Arsenal, Eidevall has known contrasting moments. He won two League Cups but never managed to dethrone Chelsea as the dominant force in the Women's Super League. Besides, expectations for success in the Champions League were cut short in the 2022/23 semifinals, his highest achievement in the continental competition, not to mention seasons when the team failed to qualify for the prestigious tournament.
The decision to sack him came right after an irregular start to the 2024/25 season, with only seven games played. The loss at home to Chelsea, with the boos around the Emirates Stadium, underlined a tough situation.
These results don't erase his qualities as a coach, but they outline the challenges he will face at the Wave-to transform a rebuilding team into a competitive and consistent squad.
With offers from other NWSL clubs and national teams, Eidevall chose the Wave. The new administration, with an ambitious vision for growth, was a decisive factor. The club also showed strong potential, leading the NWSL in attendance during 2024 and proving it has a fan base ready to support.
For Eidevall, this is the kind of project that gives him the freedom to build the way he wants, with less immediate pressure than at more established European clubs.
Eidevall's job will be multi-layered, with many points in need of addressing as soon as possible:
Rebuilding the roster: Alex Morgan's leaving created a gap that was as technical as it was symbolic. The quest is on for players who can play this leading role, one that will give the team balance and competitiveness.
Adapting to the NWSL: The league is peculiar in its profile, characterized by the balance of teams and the impossibility to foresee results. The reduced gaps between teams mean every tactical and managerial detail becomes important.
Reconnecting with the fans: Having recorded a good attendance average, Wave nevertheless needs to show on the field that they are prepared to compete at the highest level. Consistency in results and an attractive brand of football will be key in winning back the fans.
The main expectation, however, remains that the Swedish coach can use his experience in elite competitions to create something solid at the Wave. At Arsenal, he showed an ability to work with young talents and put organized teams together-which could prove crucial for the Californian club.
However, success for Eidevall depends on how well he understands the peculiarities of the NWSL and instills a winning culture in a team that is still looking for stability.