Arsenal Women are absolutely flying this season having scored 24 goals already in just a handful of matches.

So who is the manager that looks to have the team back on track?

3Playing philosophy

Montemurro himself describes his playing philosophy as fluid. He believes in having “thinking footballers” – players who can, in any situation, make the right decision on the pitch – who can play proactive football. For him, football is less about individual styles, and more about a holistic style.

Upon his appointment as coach of Melbourne Victory, he said: “I’ve always been fluid in my philosophy. Big statements like “I’m a ball possession playing side”, I personally don’t know any team that doesn’t want the ball. I think that’s just the base of the game.

“We will always play a game where football decisions are made. I will always give the ammunition to players to make the right decisions on the park. We will be well organised, I’m a detail freak, and we will always play a beautiful attacking brand of football. A technical base of football is always where we are heading.”

Australian publication The Football Sack described Montemurro as one of the most qualified Australian coaches around. He completed his UEFA A license and worked on a UEFA Pro Diploma with the Italian football federation. On top of that, he has a Masters in Sports Coaching from the University of Queensland. There is no aspect of coaching that he has left untouched.

While Arsenal got a good tactician, they also got someone who clearly values the human and psychological side of coaching. Montemurro names “personality” and “character” as the fundamentals of being a good coach, along with having a clear strategy on how the game should be played. He aims to make his players better people as well as better footballers as, in his words, not every girl will go on to become a professional footballer. His choice of favourite coaches is revealing on its own: Marcelo Bielsa, Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti head his list due to their willingness to go deep into group dynamics as well as tactics.

He may need all of his people skills to leave his mark on a growing squad of international stars and manage huge expectations. His task at Arsenal was to get the team playing cohesively again, shore up some long-standing defensive issues and take the club to a first title since 2012. Up against the considerable might of Chelsea and Manchester City, that was no small task.

Montemurro has proven to be adaptable and knowledgeable in his career so far. The move to English football was a big change for him, but it seems to be one he is more than up for.

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