Arsenal Women have appointed Scottish coach and former Arsenal player Pauline MacDonald as Player Pathway Manager following the departure of James Honeyman last month. Pauline will report into Technical Director Jodie Taylor as player pathways come under Taylor’s broad remit.
MacDonald will oversee development pathways for players transitioning from the academy to senior football. MacDonald is an experienced coach and former player who played for the Gunners 72 times between 1999 and 2003 and won 66 Scotland caps. As a coach, she spent seven years with the Scottish FA coaching the Scotland U17s and also as their performance programme manager, she worked closely with former Gunners Head Coach Shelley Kerr during her time with the Scottish FA. MacDonald has also been a Head Coach with Dallas Trinity but has significant experience in player development.
MacDonald becomes the latest in a line of former Arsenal players who have been appointed to senior positions in the club hierarchy, with Head of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley, Head Coach Renee Slegers, assistant coach Kelly Smith and Technical Director Jodie Taylor all having played for the club.