Arsenal Women's centre-back Amanda Illestedt has announced that she is pregnant with her first child and will miss the remainder of the Women's Super League season.
On Wednesday, the Swedish center back and his partner Rainer Müller shared the exciting news of his upcoming arrival on social media.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have announced that the 31-year-old will take a break from playing for Jonas Eydewall's side until after giving birth.
Illestet joined Arsenal from Paris Saint-Germain last year and has since made 12 WSL appearances for the Gunners, scoring one goal.
However, she has not played for Jonas Eydewall's side since February 4, meaning the north London outfit will have to operate without the 31-year-old former Bayern Munich defender for several months. Become.
Arsenal officially announced the news through a statement on the club's website, also noting that Illested will engage in “light training activities” during this period.
“We are thrilled to share the exciting news that Amanda Illestedt is pregnant with her first child,” the statement read. “Amanda is doing her best and we are supporting her closely through this new and exciting journey for her.
“Amanda will continue light training activities as her pregnancy progresses and will remain in close contact with her medical team, but will not be able to participate in selection until after giving birth.
“Everyone at Arsenal would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Amanda and her partner Reiner ahead of their new signings.”
Maternity leave and soccer players
In recent years, maternity leave in women's soccer and support for players who become mothers have attracted a lot of attention. In England's top two tiers of women's football, players will receive full pay for the first 14 weeks of maternity leave, after which they will be paid the statutory wage, after an agreement was reached in January 2022.
But Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said top-flight clubs needed to do more to help players with children. In a revolutionary move, Hayes introduced a pelvic floor coach to Blues midfielder Melanie Leupolz as she returned to competition after giving birth in 2018.
“If a player ruptures his ACL, we should do everything we can to get him back on the pitch within nine to 12 months,” Hayes told Sky Sports. . ”
West Ham captain Dagny Brynjarsdóttir, who is on maternity leave after giving birth to her second son last month, has been praised for her “incredible” participation in the game. movie The film, released earlier this month, shows her pregnancy journey and the challenges she faced as an elite soccer player.
Adjustments needed for Arsenal
Amanda Illestedt's pregnancy poses a challenge for the Arsenal team. Without him on the field, tactical adjustments will be necessary, especially in managing the set phase, where his expertise is valuable.
The team will have to find a solution to compensate for his absence and maintain his performance level.
Amanda Illestedt's return to competition will largely depend on her postpartum recovery. While her arrival is eagerly awaited, her and her child's health remains a priority. So she thinks Arsenal will want to be patient.
Arsenal are third in the WSL, three points behind leaders Chelsea, who play at Stamford Bridge on Friday.
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