Who was the first head coach of Arsenal Football Club?
List of Arsenal F.C. managers
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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]