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Kelly Smith: Ex Arsenal striker joins Gunners coaching staff until end of season

  /  autty

Former Arsenal striker Kelly Smith has joined the WSL club's coaching staff until the end of the season, calling the decision to return "really easy".

The 44-year-old is joining the first-team set-up on an informal basis, working with the squad a couple of times a week, and will be in the technical area for Monday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Wolfsburg at Emirates Stadium.

Smith has been working at Arsenal's girls' academy while completing her A Licence with the PFA.

Across three spells playing for the Gunners, from 1996 to when she retired in 2017, Smith scored 125 goals in 144 appearances and helped them claim a glut of silverware.

That included winning a quadruple in 2007, with her having netted 30 goals in 34 games across the four competitions.

She also scored 46 times for England - a record Lionesses haul until Ellen White surpassed it in November 2021 - and played for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

"After speaking with Jonas (Eidevall) and Clare [Wheatley, the club's head of women's football] it was a really easy decision to join the coaching set-up here," Smith told The Times.

"The club have been really supportive in helping me complete my A Licence and take the next step in my own post-playing career.

"I love this club and it's such a great feeling to be wearing the Arsenal badge once more."

Eidevall's side, who won the Continental Cup last month, drew 2-2 in the first leg of the Wolfsburg tie, fighting back from 2-0 down.

They are currently fourth in the WSL table, six points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand.

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