Freddie Ljungberg: Why Arsenal’s interim head coach could only manage Gunners for 12 weeks

The Swede steps up from assistant coach under the Spaniard

Jack Rathborn
Friday 29 November 2019 11:09 GMT
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Unai Emery sacked as Arsenal manager

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Freddie Ljungberg is the new Arsenal interim head coach but the Swede would only be able to take charge for 12 weeks if he did not have a Uefa pro license.

Ljungberg, who steps up from assistant coach, is the immediate short-term successor for Unai Emery following the loss to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ljungberg needs the Uefa Pro License to be a permanent appointment, otherwise his time as the No 1 will be restricted.

The 42-year-old will be in the dugout on Sunday for the first time at Norwich.

The Swede begun his coaching education with the Football Association of Wales (FAW), a course that Thierry Henry and Mikel Arteta also attended.

Arsenal could seek special dispensation though to extend his stay on a temporary basis, report the Mirror.

That’s because the FAW will open their application process for the Pro License next week.

Josh Kroenke said after Emery’s sacking: “Our most sincere thanks go to Unai and his colleagues who were unrelenting in their efforts to get the club back to competing at the level we all expect and demand. We wish Unai and his team nothing but future success.”

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