Arsenal’s injured star Vivianne Miedema pursues coaching aspirations and addresses concerns in women’s football while recovering from a knee injury.
Injured Vivianne Miedema turns attention to coaching
While Vivianne Miedema, Arsenal and the Netherlands’ star forward, recovers from a serious knee injury, she’s not letting her time off the pitch go to waste.
With her World Cup ambitions dashed due to the injury, Miedema has shifted her focus towards obtaining coaching diplomas and staying involved with her national team as revealed in an interview with NOS.
Let’s take a look at what she covered in that Dutch interview
Sharing insights with coach Andries Jonker
Miedema’s contributions to the Netherlands’ national team continue despite her absence from the field.
She remains in close contact with national coach (and former Arsenal man) Andries Jonker, discussing matches and tactics with him and her teammates.
Miedema’s insights are reportedly highly valued by the team, and her coaching aspirations have only strengthened her involvement.
Finding a replacement for the irreplaceable
As the Netherlands prepares for the World Cup without their star striker, Miedema shared her thoughts on potential replacements.
Fenna Kalma, Romée Leuchter, and Lineth Beerensteyn are among the names she mentions as capable goal-scorers.
Miedema trusts Jonker to make the right decision and set up the team for success.
“It’s not realistic for me to make it,” Miedema said. “And it’s not fair for me to go half fit and take someone else’s place. Unfortunately, it comes too soon.”
Miedema and Mead’s journey through injury
Both Vivianne Miedema and her partner, Arsenal teammate Beth Mead, are recovering from cruciate ligament injuries.
The couple, who have an impressive trophy collection, support each other through the recovery process, sharing their experiences and discussing their passion for football.
“I jumped today,” says Miedema. “Oh really? Good,” Mead replies.
“Occasionally we can shoot each other,” says Miedema. “But at least you know what you are going through. You can talk to each other about missing football. What it was like in the gym, how the knee feels. In that respect it is still somewhat nice.”
Addressing concerns in women’s football
Miedema also addresses the growing burden on women’s football players due to the expansion of competitions and increasing number of matches.
She believes the well-being of players should be prioritized and calls for better facilities and a high-quality premier league to ensure players’ health and development.
“I think that in women’s football we do not necessarily have to move towards men’s football,” she said.
“A lot of things in women’s football are done as they are also arranged in men’s football. But actually you first have to develop slowly to be able to take the next step.
“These [extra games/tournaments] are mainly things that are planned for profit and entertainment, but the well-being of the players is not taken into account.
“Men also play a ridiculous amount of matches,” she adds. “I think Kevin De Bruyne played 63 games last year,” she says of the Manchester City player and Belgium international. “That’s just a lot…”