Mikel Arteta’s job description at Arsenal has changed from head coach to first-team manager as part of the club’s restructuring programme.
The Spanish tactician succeeded Unai Emery at the North London-based club and went on to win the FA Cup and Community Shield in his very first season at the club.
After the departure of Arsene Wenger in 2018, the club introduced the job title of head coach.
A structural shake-up at the club this summer, which included redundancies of non-playing staff, the departure of head of football Raul Sanllehi, and a number of long-serving scouts have also seen Vinai Venkatesham named chief executive.
As part of the former Arsenal captain’s job will be the close working relationship with Edu, who serves as the club’s technical director.
According to Venkatesham, Arteta has been a positive influence on the team and the promotion is the right step.
“The last nine months have probably been the most challenging nine months in Arsenal’s history – and we’ve been around for 134 years. Despite all of those challenges, Mikel has been driving this football club forward,” Venkatesham, who was previously managing director, toldArsenal Digital.
“He has lifted the spirits and lifted the energy here at London Colney and with Arsenal fans all across the world. He is doing an absolutely phenomenal job.
“The other thing that’s clear is that right from the day he walked through the door, he was doing much more than being our head coach. So we’re going to be changing his job title going forward.
“He’ll move from head coach to be the first-team manager. That’s recognition of what he’s been doing from the day he walked in the door, but also where we see his capabilities.”
