Jonas Eidevall is enjoying a calmer lifestyle on the coast of California after taking charge of San Diego Wave. The former Arsenal manager spends his free time reading books, visiting the gym, and walking by the ocean in Del Mar. Beyond the relaxed atmosphere, his team are currently riding a five-game winning streak in the National Women’s Soccer League.
San Diego sit in second place in the league table, just one point behind the leaders, with two matches remaining before the playoffs begin. The club are targeting silverware under his leadership. Eidevall stated that winning the championship would mean everything to the organization. He acknowledged that the playoffs offer no guarantees, but emphasized that his squad firmly believe they can go all the way.
When he first took charge of the team in January 2025, Eidevall addressed his players via a video call by quoting a proverb about traveling far together rather than fast alone. He explained that his ideas held no value unless everyone bought into them completely. The squad focused heavily on building human connections during the early stages of his tenure. Detailed tactical discussions were initially kept to a minimum.
Instead, the team spent roughly four weeks of a six-week pre-season working entirely on passing out from the back to establish their style of play. That preparation has yielded real results on the pitch. Defenders Kristen McNabb and Kennedy Wesley rank as the top two players in the division for completed passes this season. The coach also pointed to the development of young players such as Melanie Barcenas and Kimmi Ascanio, both 18 years old.
Eidevall said the club had to undergo a complete rebuild following poor performances on the pitch in 2024. The recruitment team deliberately sought out technically gifted players who could fit a specific system. Many teams in the NWSL rely heavily on athleticism and transitional play, which places a premium on raw speed. San Diego instead focused on technical supremacy.
Targeting technically adept players provided a major advantage within the constraints of a salary cap league. Eidevall pointed out that relying solely on readymade signings quickly depletes available salary cap space. He also had to adapt to the general competitiveness of American soccer. Unlike European leagues where top sides rarely drop points in consecutive fixtures, teams in the NWSL frequently experience difficult spells.
Managing training sessions presented another distinct challenge due to limited roster sizes and a lack of traditional second-team academy systems seen in Europe. Injuries can leave the squad with restricted numbers, requiring creativity during training drills. Despite these hurdles, San Diego have broken club records for regular-season wins and goals scored while maintaining high possession and limiting opponent opportunities.
Reflecting on his departure from Arsenal in October 2024 after three full campaigns, Eidevall shared tactical lessons learned in north London. He noted that fluidity among wide players at Arsenal occasionally left too few options in central areas. That long-term reflection directly influenced tactical adjustments implemented at San Diego to improve central connections.
The 43-year-old manager is also keen to replicate the electric matchday atmosphere he experienced at Emirates Stadium. San Diego have secured a home playoff quarter-final at the 35,000-seater Snapdragon Stadium. Eidevall recalled the sellout crowd for Arsenal against Wolfsburg in the 2023 Champions League semi-final. He stressed that San Diego must create special stadium experiences and play meaningful matches to draw similar crowds.
