Who was the first head coach of Arsenal Football Club?
List of Arsenal F.C. managers
Thomas Mitchell
Although Arsenal was founded in 1886, it was not until 1897 that the club appointed a permanent manager in charge of first-team affairs, with Thomas Mitchell universally recognised as Arsenal's first professional manager.[nb 2] Mitchell joined Arsenal five months after resigning from Blackburn Rovers in October 1896.[14] The Scotsman's time at Woolwich Arsenal was brief and he left his post barely a year into his contract, though he did manage to take the club from tenth to fifth in the league.[14] Mitchell guided Arsenal through a respectable cup run which culminated in the first round proper.[14] William Elcoat succeeded Mitchell as manager in April 1898, and set about reviving the squad with new additions.[15] The changes did not have the desired effect; his team finished seventh in a league of 18 and were beaten 6–0 by Derby County in the FA Cup first round.[16] He departed in February 1899, and like his predecessor only remained for a season.[15]