Arsene Wenger is Manager of Arsenal in the English Premier League. He has been Arsenal’s manager for over 10 years, with his trademark intelligent and fluent style of play setting him apart as the boss of the most entertaining side in English football. He has had to rebuild whole football teams over the years, and has a reputation for giving youth a chance. He is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the World.
Arsene Wenger was born on 1949 in Strasbourg – the third child of an automobile-parts company owner. He was an average but hard-running centre-back, and worked his way up the football ladder as a player, playing for the likes of Duttlenheim and Mutzig, before turning out for Mulhouse and Strasbourg, but never really excelled on the football pitch.
It was only when Wenger decided to take up a role as manager of Nancy that Wenger started to look a cut above his rivals. Much of his work was behind the scenes, working on the youth infrastructure and scouting – but Nancy were relegated before any of his improvements started to show.
His first big chance came in 1987 at Monaco, who had seen enough of his intelligent and calm philosophy of football to offer Wenger the manager’s hot-seat. He went on to win the league, and spent big money on the bringing top-quality talent such as Klinnsman, Weah and Djorkeaff to the club.
After 7 years in charge, a bad start to the season saw changes being made at the top and Arsene was fired. Wenger spent 18 months in Japan, leading Grampus 8 to the Emperors Cup, before he was taken on by Arsenal on the recommendation of Gerard Houllier.
Arsene is Arsenal’s most successful manager of all time, winning 3 league titles, 4 FA Cups and various smaller trophies along the way. He took his Arsenal side to the 2006 Champions League Final, and was unlucky to lose to Barcelona having seen his side take the lead.
Wenger is renowned for being able to shine up rough diamonds, and has proven this with the purchases of out-of-sorts players and turning them into world champions. Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira were both struggling in Italy before he took them to Arsenal, as were so many other notable players.
Wenger turned down the French manager’s role when he was at Monaco, and has insisted that he favours club football over working internationally. He continues to be linked to a football consultant role at the FFF, but is committed to Arsenal.