Arsenal legend Steve Bould has made a surprise return to London with Queens Park Rangers, but not as their manager.
Instead he will be an assistant to Julien Stephan, the former Rennes coach who has just been announced as the replacement for Marti Cifuentes.
Bould is returning to London after 30 years with Arsenal
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Bould is returning to London after 30 years with ArsenalCredit: Getty
Bould’s job title is officially ‘Head of Defensive Coaching and First Team Coach’ a role that he became very familiar with in the Premier League.
The 62-year-old is an Arsenal great, having won three league titles and an FA Cup during an 11-year stint, and began coaching in the club’s academy shortly after retiring in 2001.
There he impressively led their under-18 side to successive Premier Academy League titles in 2009 and 2010 as well as the FA Youth Cup in the 2008-09 season.
He then stepped up to the senior team in 2012, taking an assistant role as Arsene Wenger's right-hand man until the Frenchman's 2018 departure.
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The former defender was credited with improving Arsenal’s defence on numerous occasions, including in 2015 when Niall Quinn praised the assistant.
He told talkSPORT: “From the outside it looks like Steve wasn’t given the complete go-ahead to restructure and redefine the Arsenal defence when he came in as Arsene’s number two.
“Now though it looks like he’s doing a good job. It all looks positive for the club going forward.”
After Wenger’s departure, Bould was moved back to the youth team and then departed the club in 2021, ending 30 years of service as a player and coach.
There was plenty of shock, including from academy graduate Jack Wilshere, who tweeted at the time: “Can't believe it. Another proper Arsenal man gone! What is going on? What a coach and what a guy.”
After departing the Emirates Stadium, Bould took his first job as a senior head coach with Belgian side Lommel.
Bould's departure was derided by many at the club
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Bould's departure was derided by many at the clubCredit: Getty
His highlights included a fourth place finish in the second tier Challenger Pro League, but was unable to take the team to the top flight.
Leaving at the end of the 2024/25 season to be replaced by countryman and EFL regular Lee Johnson, Bould’s return to London comes with plenty of pride.
“I'm delighted, I think it's a great opportunity because number one, and I don't say this lightly, QPR is a great football club and always has been,” he told his new club’s website.
“Loftus Road is a great ground and the club has a real loyal following. I've looked around today and I can see that there's a real buzz about the place. The training ground is fantastic, the whole set-up is.
“It has a family feel as well. Coming in here just feels like family. It's quite unusual, I have to tell you.”
Despite Bould’s optimism, the past decade hasn’t been much fun at QPR.
QPR have made another coaching change after Cifuentes was dismissed
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QPR have made another coaching change after Cifuentes was dismissedCredit: Getty
The west London side were relegated from the Premier League in 2015 and haven’t come close to a return since.
Their best effort was ninth in the 2020/21 season but they’ve generally been a bottom half side, even flirting with relegation on multiple occasions.