Mikel Arteta Shocks Football World with Unexpected Career Move Just Days Before Premier League Kickoff

Arsenal's head coach Mikel Arteta has been announced as the new performance director for international sports clothing company Under Armour.

Arteta is preparing to begin his seventh campaign as the Gunners' manager, aiming to finally break a 21-year drought for a Premier League championship following three consecutive second-place finishes.

However, his reputation in the sports industry has also opened doors to a significant commercial opportunity.

Managing Arsenal demands tremendous dedication, yet Under Armour states that Arteta will assist the American company in continuing to "revolutionize" football while working to strengthen its position against established football powerhouses Nike, adidas and Puma.

Among Arteta's responsibilities with Under Armour is to "nurture" emerging talent, particularly acting as a representative for the Next London initiative, which aims to "support London's upcoming generation of athletes".

Arteta disclosed at a media gathering in London this week that he anticipates gaining insights from other sports through this position that he can implement in his role at Arsenal.

"I believe there are innovations that have been created in other sports that haven't reached football yet," the Spanish coach stated. "In numerous aspects of our field, we lag behind, and in areas where we lead, we can share knowledge so they can improve.

"Simply making the work easier, the approach to thinking, understanding how high-level decisions are reached as well. What drives those decisions? The timing they employ, the rationale behind our choices - I find this extremely valuable too.

"And if I can contribute similarly from my perspective, helping them understand how to communicate with a player, how to speak with a manager, how to create a product, how to implement a strategy to bring someone into partnership with the company, I believe that represents something very impactful."

Under Armour has been expanding its football roster in recent years.

Barcelona striker Ferran Torres joined the brand last season, alongside teammates Fermín López and Marc Casadó. Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro and Real Madrid center-back Antonio Rüdiger are additional UA-sponsored players. Under Armour previously manufactured Tottenham jerseys from 2012 through 2017, but presently lacks a major club partnership.