Carlos Cuesta (Photo by Getty Images)placeholder image
Carlos Cuesta (Photo by Getty Images)
Arsenal’s assistant head coach Carlos Cuesta will leave the club to take up a managerial role at Italian side Parma, leaving Michael Arteta with a tricky backroom staff problem to resolve before the start of preseason.
Cuesta arrived in Italy on Wednesday morning to finalise the move, which was given the green light by Arsenal on Tuesday. The 29-year-old joined Arteta’s backroom staff in 2020 following roles in the Juventus and Atletico Madrid youth teams.
The Spaniard’s departure will undoubtedly be a blow to the Gunners after a tough season, and Michael Arteta will have to begin searching for a replacement.
At this stage, it is not believed that a successor has been lined up, but Mikel Arteta’s preference for promoting from within the club makes U21s manager Mehmet Ali a strong candidate for the vacancy.
Ali has impressed during his three-year tenure at Arsenal and is well-versed in Arteta’s footballing philosophy, having worked closely with the club’s youth and transitional squads.
Another name that could come into consideration is Steve Round, who previously served as Arteta’s assistant until 2023. He is currently working as a part-time assistant to Derby County manager John Eustace.
Round’s return would bring heaps of experience to Arteta’s backroom staff, with the 54-year-old building up decades of knowledge whilst coaching the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle and the England national team.
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