Obsessive on details but partial to confrontation, it’s no wonder Gabriel Heinze has an admirer in Mikel Arteta.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Argentina left back is the latest addition to the Spaniard’s coaching team, replacing Carlos Cuesta, who was lured away to become Parma head coach in Serie A at the age of just 29.
It was a surprise, given Cuesta signed a new two-year deal in April, but Arsenal moved quickly to replace him.
Speak to anyone about Heinze and the picture painted is of an uncompromising, relentless, obsessive approach to winning – in contrast to Cuesta, who was more sociable and personable with the players, being closer to their age.
How will Arsenal’s star players react to the new coach and his drastic methods? Mail Sport was told that when Heinze was at Newell’s Old Boys in his homeland, he would weigh his players twice a day.
It all makes for an intriguing concoction. Arteta and Heinze have remained close friends since the days when the former arrived at Paris Saint-Germain as an 18-year-old. The Argentine, and his compatriot Mauricio Pochettino, were both influential figures in those early years in the French capital.
Gabriel Heinze is the latest addition to Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff
Heinze replaces Carlos Cuesta, who was a more reserved and personable character in the Arsenal dressing room
Arteta and Heinze became close at PSG and have remained good friends ever since
‘Those two were next to me all the time, behind me, and they were guiding me in everything I had to do in my professional life, how I had to understand the game. They were inspirational to me,’ Arteta said in October.
Heinze, 47, is a serial winner, and has managed five teams, four of which were in Argentina plus Atlanta United in MLS. He won league titles with Marseille, United and Real during his playing days.
Arteta is an intense coach, but the Argentine may just top that. And he is a trusted confidante of the Gunners boss, who hopes Heinze can bring the winning edge this team needs to get over the top.
Juani Carducci, a journalist who covers Newell’s Old Boys, told Mail Sport: ‘Arsenal will be getting a coach who is extremely passionate about his work, dedicating a significant portion of his day to the team.
‘He’s also very obsessive, which can be a double-edged sword. He likes his teams to control possession, recover the ball quickly after losing it, and he’s a big believer in intense play and one-on-one duels on the wings. His tactical formation is always a 4-3-3.’
Heinze has no qualms about standing up for himself. He once went into battle with Sir Alex Ferguson by demanding United allow him to join Liverpool in the summer of 2007, having lost his starting spot to Patrice Evra.
Sir Alex, not one to be taken for a ride, declared: ‘I can assure you, Liverpool will not be getting Gabriel Heinze.’
Heinze took the case to a Premier League tribunal and lost, before leaving for Real Madrid. After two years in Spain, he was off to Marseille, Roma and back to his first club Newell’s Old Boys, where he collected the last of his 514 club appearances in an 18-year playing career, to go with 72 caps for Argentina.
Heinze won a league title with Manchester United, but left in fractious circumstances after demanding to join Liverpool. Sir Alex Ferguson stood firm and he went to Real Madrid instead
Heinze has managed five clubs – four in Argentina plus Atlanta United in MLS
He won 72 caps for his country, including at the 2010 World Cup under manager Diego Maradona
And the spat with Ferguson was a harbinger for his managerial career, having most recently been in charge of Newell’s until resigning in November 2023 to end a reign marked by conflicts with players and the press.
Ale Mangiaterra, a sports journalist in the Rosario area, told Mail Sport: ‘Heinze’s time as Newell’s manager got off to a good start in terms of his performance and the results he achieved.
‘He even had a very good start to the Copa Sudamericana, where he achieved the club’s first victory against a Brazilian team playing in Brazil.
‘Towards the end of his time at Newell’s Club, he found no attacking options and his team became predictable. He raised the level of players, but they later returned to their normal, poorer performances.
‘His personality is perhaps his worst aspect. He didn’t have a good relationship with the press and always felt that every criticism was part of a personal attack. It was a very motivated start and a very mentally draining finish.’
And physically draining too, given the practice of weighing his players twice a day, while sending them assignments via WhatsApp. If players turned up to training and did not already know what they were meant to be doing that day, they would be punished.
Carducci added: ‘Heinze’s time at Newell’s Old Boys ended up being quite ordinary, even leaning downwards when you consider his record of 39 league matches, 15 wins, 14 draws and 10 losses.
Heinze was a combative player and has continued that streak in his coaching
His competitive edge and drive may be exactly what Arsenal need to finally get over the top
‘These numbers are also somewhat skewed by his poor relationship with the AFA (Argentine Football Association), which he felt were prejudiced against his team in many matches.
‘Heinze is known to be a very stubborn and uncompromising coach, with little self-criticism. He always believes he’s right and is tenacious in his convictions.
‘He also has a history of clashing with journalists, having had issues with the press at every club he’s managed.’
So this will not be a quiet one. But after 20 seasons without a Premier League title, and coming up agonisingly short in recent years, perhaps this is exactly the winning drive and edge Arsenal need.
