Arsenal revamps medical and fitness staff after title-winning season
Arsenal’s lead performance coach Sam Wilson is leaving after 12 years, strongly linked to Juventus, while head of sports science Tom Allen and medical director Dr. Zafar Iqbal also depart. The club is restructuring its medical and fitness departments amid injury concerns, with Mikel Arteta bringing in consultants and rehabilitation specialist Eneko Angulo from Real Betis. The shakeup follows Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years and a Champions League final loss.
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Arsenal Overhauls Medical Team to Address Injury Crisis
Arsenal is undertaking a major restructuring of its medical and sports science departments to address a persistent injury crisis that has threatened their Premier League title defense. Key changes include the arrival of Spanish physiotherapist Joaquín Acevedo, a long-time associate of manager Mikel Arteta, who has initiated a shakeup. Departures include sports medicine director Dr. Zafar Iqbal, sports science director Tom Allen, and head strength coach Sam Wilson. New hires include Dr. Arnaldo Abrantes and physiotherapist Carmen Marks from Aston Villa, rehabilitation specialist Eneko Angulo from Real Betis, and fitness coaches from Braga and Bayer Leverkusen. The overhaul follows a season where only two outfield players avoided injury, and tensions between Arteta's demanding training regimen and player fatigue came to a head. The club aims to reduce treatment room days as a key factor in defending their title.
虎扑 - 足球Mikel Arteta sees member of Arsenal inner circle leave after internal review instructed
Arsenal's head of sports science and performance, Tom Allen, is leaving the club after nine years, following the earlier exit of head of medical Dr Zafar Iqbal. The departures come after an internal review ordered by manager Mikel Arteta, prompted by injuries to key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. Arteta brought in Spanish physiotherapist Joaquín Acedo to conduct the review. Additionally, lead physical performance coach Sam Wilson is also departing after 12 years at the club. Arsenal recently won their first Premier League title in 22 years but lost the Champions League final to PSG.
Mirror - FootballArsenal head of sports science performance Tom Allen departs
Tom Allen, Arsenal's head of sports science performance, is leaving the club after eight years. He joined from Aston Villa in 2017 and oversaw sports science, physical output, nutrition, and performance support. His departure follows that of head of medical Dr Zaf Iqbal and lead performance coach Sam Wilson, just weeks after Arsenal won their first Premier League title in 22 years. The exits are part of a structured review involving external medical expert Joaquin Acedo, who has a long-standing relationship with manager Mikel Arteta dating back to their time together at Everton. Sources indicate Acedo has had significant influence on the summer changes. The club had faced major injury concerns last season despite winning the title.
BBC SportArsenal's Head of Sports Science Tom Allen Departs in Summer Staff Shakeup
According to The Telegraph, Arsenal's Director of Sports Science and Performance, Tom Allen, is leaving the club, becoming the latest member of Mikel Arteta's inner circle to depart during a summer coaching staff overhaul. Allen, who joined Arsenal in 2017 and was promoted to head of performance five years later, was considered one of Arteta's most influential aides. His departure follows the dismissal of medical director Dr. Zafar Iqbal last month. The club faced numerous injuries last season that hampered their title challenge, prompting an internal review. Arteta's high-intensity training policy has been linked to player fitness issues. In addition to Allen, long-serving head fitness coach Sam Wilson will also leave to join a European club. CEO Richard Garlick is overseeing these changes, with Arnoldo Abrantes, formerly of Aston Villa, expected to become the new club doctor. The departures reflect a period of significant backroom restructuring at the London Colney training ground.
虎扑 - 足球BBC Exclusive: Arsenal Fitness Coach Leaves, Entire Medical/Fitness Team Restructured
BBC Sport exclusively reports that Arsenal's head strength and conditioning coach Sam Wilson will leave the club after seven years with the first team, possibly to join Juventus where former Arsenal fitness director Darren Burgess works. This follows the departure of Sports Medicine Director Dr. Zafar Iqbal after Arsenal's Champions League final loss to PSG. The club is restructuring its medical department, with Mikel Arteta's longtime friend Joaquin Acedo providing consultancy last season. Rehabilitation specialist Eneko Angulo will leave Real Betis after 12 years to join Arsenal. Despite winning the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years last season, the team suffered numerous injury setbacks, prompting a comprehensive evaluation of the medical and fitness departments.
虎扑 - 足球Arsenal coach Sam Wilson leaves as club continues revamp of title-winning staff
Sam Wilson, Arsenal's lead performance coach, is reportedly leaving the club as Mikel Arteta continues to overhaul his title-winning backroom staff. According to BBC Sport, Wilson is content to pursue a new challenge and is already in line for a more senior role at another club, potentially Juventus, due to the presence of a former Arsenal coach there. The departure is part of broader changes to Arsenal's coaching and medical teams following their Premier League title victory.
CaughtOffsideArsenal performance coach Sam Wilson set to leave for European club
Arsenal's lead performance coach Sam Wilson is set to leave the club to join a European team, with strong links to Juventus where former Arsenal head of performance Darren Burgess is director of performance. Wilson, who has been at Arsenal since 2014 and with the first team for seven years, is leaving for a more senior role and could have stayed with the Gunners. His departure adds to a series of backroom changes following Arsenal's first Premier League title in 22 years. Head of sports medicine Dr Zafar Iqbal has also left after being informed of the change following Arsenal's Champions League final loss to PSG. Arsenal are revamping their medical department, with Mikel Arteta's friend Joaquin Acedo consulting last season and rehabilitation specialist Eneko Angulo reportedly set to join from Real Betis.
BBC SportArsenal performance coach Sam Wilson set to leave for European club
Arsenal's lead performance coach Sam Wilson is set to leave the club after 12 years, having been with the first team for the past seven. He is strongly linked to Juventus, where former Arsenal head of performance Darren Burgess works as director of performance. The move is reportedly Wilson's decision, seeking a more senior role. His departure follows the club's first Premier League title in 22 years last season, but also a period of backroom changes. Head of sports medicine Dr Zafar Iqbal has already left after the Champions League final loss to PSG. Arsenal are revamping their medical department, with Mikel Arteta's friend Joaquin Acedo consulting and reports that rehabilitation specialist Eneko Angulo is leaving Real Betis to join the Gunners.
BBC Sport