Arsène Wenger
.jpg) Wenger in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Arsène Wenger[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 22 October 1949 | ||
| Place of birth | Strasbourg, France | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2] | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Arsenal (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1963–1969 | FC Duttlenheim | ||
| 1969–1973 | Mutzig | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1969–1973 | Mutzig | ||
| 1973–1975 | Mulhouse | 56 | (4) |
| 1975–1978 | ASPV Strasbourg | ||
| 1978–1981 | RC Strasbourg | 11 | (0) |
| Total | 67 | (4) | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1984–1987 | Nancy-Lorraine | ||
| 1987–1994 | AS Monaco | ||
| 1995–1996 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | ||
| 1996– | Arsenal | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Arsène Wenger, OBE (French pronunciation: [aʁsɛn vɛŋ(ɡ)ɛʁ]; born 22 October 1949), is a French football manager and former player. He has been the manager of Arsenal since 1996, where he has since become the club's longest-serving manager and most successful in terms of major titles won. Football pundits give Wenger credit for his contribution to the revolutionising of football in England in the late 1990s through the introduction of changes in the training and diet of players.
Wenger was born in Strasbourg and raised in Duttlenheim. He was introduced to football by his father, the manager of the local village team. After a modest playing career, in which he made appearances for several amateur clubs, Wenger obtained a manager's diploma in 1981. Following an unsuccessful period at Nancy which culminated in his dismissal in 1987, Wenger joined AS Monaco; the club won the league championship in 1988. In 1991, Wenger guided Monaco to victory in the Coupe de France, but their failure to regain the league title in later seasons led to his departure from the club by mutual consent in 1994. He briefly coached Japanese J.League side Nagoya Grampus Eight, which won the Emperor's Cup and Japanese Super Cup during his stint.
In 1996, Wenger was named manager of Arsenal and two years later the club completed a league and FA Cup double. The club won another league and cup double in 2002 and retained the FA Cup a year later. In 2004, Wenger managed Arsenal to an undefeated league season, a feat last accomplished by Preston North End, 115 years previously. Arsenal later eclipsed Nottingham Forest's record of 42 league matches unbeaten and went seven more matches before losing in October 2004. The club made their first appearance in a Champions League final in 2006, though they lost to Barcelona. After a period of nine years without a trophy, which coincided with the club relocating to the Emirates Stadium, Wenger guided Arsenal to further FA Cup success in 2014 and 2015. Alongside George Ramsay, he is the most successful manager in the competition's history with six titles.
The nickname "Le Professeur" (French for "The Professor") is used by fans and the British media to reflect Wenger's studious demeanour. His approach to the game emphasises an attacking mentality, with the aim that football ought to be entertaining on the pitch. Wenger's Arsenal teams have been criticised for their indiscipline; his players received 100 red cards between September 1996 and February 2014, though the team has won awards for sporting fair play. At Monaco, Wenger earned a reputation for spotting young talent, and he has remained focused on developing a youth system.
Early life
Wenger was born on 22 October 1949 in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, to Alphonse and Louise Wenger. Arsène was the third of their three children. He lived in Duppigheim during the 1950s, but spent most of his time in the neighbouring village of Duttlenheim, ten miles south-west of Strasbourg.[3][4] Alphonse, like many Alsatians, was conscripted into the German army by force (incorporé de force) following the earlier annexation of the French region of Alsace-Lorraine by Germany.[5] He was sent to fight on the Eastern Front in October 1944, at the age of 24.[5]
The Wengers owned an automobile spare parts business and a bistro titled La croix d'or.[6] It meant that they had difficulty looking after their children, but Duttlenheim was a village where everyone took care of the young; Wenger compared it in later years to a kibbutz.[6] Before Wenger started school at the age of six, he expressed himself in the local Alsatian dialect of Low Alemannic German.[7] The primary school which Wenger attended was run by the Catholic Church.[8] As one of its brightest students he later was accepted into a secondary school in Obernai.[9]
According to his father, who also managed the village team, Wenger was introduced to football "at about the age of six".[10] He was taken to games in Germany, where he held an affection for Borussia Mönchengladbach.[4] Alsace was an area steeped in religion; Wenger and the village boys often needed to seek permission from the Catholic priest to miss vespers (evening prayers) in order to play football.[11]
Playing career
Because the population of Duttlenheim was short in numbers, it proved difficult to field a team of 11 players of equal ages; Wenger did not play for FC Duttlenheim until the age of 12.[12] Claude Wenger, a team-mate of Arsène noted his lack of pace as a player. Marcel Brandner, president of FC Duttlenheim said Wenger had "an ability to guard the ball ... he seemed to have a complete vision of the pitch and he certainly had an influence among his team-mates."[5] As a young teenager he was called Petit; the nickname ceased when he had a growth spurt and broke into FC Duttlenheim's first team, aged 16.[13] The team did not have a coach to prepare the players tactically, rather a person who supervised training sessions.[14] Wenger took it upon himself to manage the side – Claude recalled: "Arsène wasn't the captain and yet he was. It was 'You do this, you do that, you do this you do that.' He was the leader."[14]
In 1969 Wenger was recruited to nearby third division club Mutzig.[15] The club was famed for playing the "best amateur football" in Alsace and managed by Max Hild, who would later go on to become Wenger's mentor.[6] Wenger's emergence at Mutzig aged 20 was considered too late for him to build a reputable playing career.[16] Football was not seen as his future; the plan was for him to run the family's spare parts business. He was however of the age to start increasing his tactical knowledge of the sport.[16] He frequently read France Football and alongside Hild made trips to Germany to watch Bundesliga matches and observe the different managerial styles.[16][17] During Wenger's three years at Mutzig, the club beat FC Strasbourg 06 3–0 to win the Coupe d'Alsace.[18] He also represented Alsace in a competition held annually between the regional leagues.[19]
Wenger took his studies further and in 1971 enrolled at the Faculté des sciences économiques et de gestion (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences) at the University of Strasbourg to read politics and economics after a brief stint in medicine.[15] In 1973 he joined semi-professional club Mulhouse and balanced his football career with his education.[19][20] Wenger completed an economics degree[nb 1] a year later.[25] He was selected to represent the national French students squad and visited Nigeria, Lebanon, and Uruguay – where the World Students Championship was held in 1976.[26] Wenger did not participate in the event as he was injured; Jean-Luc Arribart, captain of the team recalled: "By the end of that trip, Arsène had almost taken on the role of assistant coach and team joker rolled into one."[27]
At Mulhouse, Wenger was managed by Paul Frantz who like Hild had a profound impact on his career. It was he who formalised Wenger's beliefs on the importance of nutrition, isometrics and working on a player's strong points.[28] Wenger played in midfield for Mulhouse, often positioned on the right. In their final game of the 1974–75 season, the club beat AS Nancy to avoid relegation, but shortly afterwards Frantz resigned.[29] Wenger also made the decision to leave, as the regular commutes to Mulhouse from Strasbourg overwhelmed him.[29] In 1975 he rekindled his friendship with Hild and signed for amateur club ASPV Strasbourg (Vauban).[29] Hild needed a midfielder "who could organise play and also have a sort of hold over the team" and decided to recruit Wenger.[29] Vauban was formed in 1971 and made steady progress up the French football league system thereafter; Wenger's three seasons at the club culminated with promotion to the third division.[30]
In 1978 Hild joined RC Strasbourg as coach of the reserve team.[31] The role required him to scout, so Hild wanted an experienced player to work with the youth while he was away.[31] Both Hild and Frantz recommended Wenger, which convinced manager Gilbert Gress to appoint him.[32] Wenger's playing career at the age of 28 began to wane, but he never anticipated a role in the first-team. Working for RC Strasbourg however presented him his first full-time job at the club he supported as a young boy.[31] Hild moved Wenger from midfield to central defence, where he was positioned as a sweeper in reserve games.[31] In November 1978 he made his debut for the first team against MSV Duisburg in the UEFA Cup (a match Strasbourg lost 4–0) and a month later played against champions AS Monaco in the First Division.[33] At the end of the 1978–79 season RC Strasbourg won the league; Wenger did not join in the celebrations as he was preoccupied with the youth team.[34] He made his final appearance for the senior side in 1979.[35]
Wenger spent the last two years of his playing career predominantly running RC Strasbourg's reserve and youth team. He became conscious of the importance of speaking English and during his holidays enrolled on a three-week language course at Cambridge.[36] Wenger also studied for his coaching badge at the Centre de ressources, d'expertise et de performance sportives (CREPS) in Strasbourg – this consisted of a course to coach children, followed by an intensive six-day course which led up to the national coaching badge.[37] The latter programme took place in Vichy and was spread over three weeks. Wenger was able to put Frantz's teachings, particularly isometrics into practise.[38] In 1981 he received his manager's diploma in Paris.[39]
Managerial career
1984–1994: Nancy and Monaco
Wenger's management skills at Strasbourg impressed many French coaches, and in 1983 he moved to Ligue 2 club Cannes, where he became Jean-Marc Guillou's assistant.[40] Earning a steady wage of £300 per week, he was responsible for collecting information about opposition teams, and instilled discipline in the players through training sessions.[41] Wenger's commitment to football was well documented; when asked what the young coach did during his spare time, general manager Richard Conte replied: "Videos, videos, videos. He was always watching videos of his opponents, of his own team. It didn't matter what time of night."[42] Cannes failed to win promotion to Ligue 1, but they reached the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France.[43] Wenger's work in raising the standard of the squad did not go unnoticed, and in 1984 he accepted Aldo Platini's offer to become manager of Nancy.[44]
The challenge of sustaining Nancy as a Ligue 1 club was difficult as Wenger inherited a squad of sub-standard quality and he was given limited money to spend.[45] He nevertheless relished the prospect of conducting business in the transfer market, and enjoyed freedom to trial theories he read about.[45] In his first season at Nancy, Wenger hired a dietician to explain the benefits of healthy eating and made it imperative that players did not snack before games.[46] He took the squad away from their usual summer training camp to Val Thorens, so that the players could acclimatise to the high-altitude.[46] Platini attested the move to their strong league starts.[46] From a managerial perspective, Wenger struggled to keep his emotions in check; losing made him "physically sick", to the point where he once stopped the team bus to vomit after a game.[42] Wenger guided the club to a respectable 12th-place finish, all the more surprising given he constantly tinkered his team.[45] Players were moved out of their favoured positions, which for some maximised their potential.[45] Éric Bertrand, a striker signed from the lower divisions, was converted into a fullback, and by the end of Wenger's time at Nancy, Éric Di Meco switched from a left winger to wing back.[47]
Nancy's bottom-half finish proved a false down as the club finished 18th in the 1985–86 season, which meant they had to win a play-off match to avoid relegation. They retained their league status with a 3–2 aggregate win against Mulhouse. [48] The club however sold several of their best players to avoid financial predicament and provided Wenger with little funds to work from which irritated him.[49][50] In Wenger's final season in charge, Nancy finished 19th and were relegated to Ligue 2.[50] Despite the setback, he was contacted by AS Monaco over their vacant managerial job.[51] Talks had begun during the summer of 1986, but Nancy chairman Gérard Rousselot refused to release Wenger from his contract, and Monaco were not prepared to offer compensation.[51] Once Nancy's relegation was confirmed, Wenger was permitted to leave the club by mutual consent and in 1987 was confirmed as Monaco manager.[44]
Before joining Monaco, Wenger had identified several players to build his desired team.[52] Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Glenn Hoddle, granted a free transfer, and Patrick Battiston, out of contract at Bordeaux, were signed.[52] Striker Mark Hateley left Milan to join Monaco and was "encouraged to learn" that his fellow Englishman Hoddle would play in the same side as him.[53] Monaco won the league in Wenger's debut season, six points ahead of runners-up Bordeaux.[54] Although the team scored more goals in 1988–89 due to the purchase of Liberian striker George Weah, Monaco failed to retain the league and finished third behind Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain.[55] The club reached the final of the Coupe de France, the national knockout cup competition in the same season, but lost 4–3 to Marseille.[56]
Monaco again finished third in 1989–90; striker Ramón Díaz scored 15 goals in his first season at the club.[57][58] The club beat league winners Marseille in the Coupe de France final through a last minute goal from substitute Gérald Passi.[56] In 1991–92, Monaco finished in second place and lost the 1992 European Cup Winners' Cup Final 2–0 to Werder Bremen.[59] Although Monaco acquired the services of German striker Jürgen Klinsmann, the club could not regain the championship and concluded the subsequent seasons in third and ninth positions.[60][61] Monaco did reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in April 1994, but lost to eventual winners Milan.[62] As a result of his work at Monaco, Wenger was sought after by German club Bayern Munich, who wanted him to be their next manager.[63] Monaco refused to let him leave and Wenger chose to stay, but a poor start to the 1994–95 season meant he was dismissed on 17 September 1994, with the team in 17th spot in the table.[64] In 2001, Wenger said that the impact of bribery and corruption had influenced his decision to leave France, as Marseille were found guilty of match fixing in 1994.[65]
1994–1996: Nagoya Grampus Eight
Shortly after his dismissal, Wenger travelled to the United Arab Emirates to attend a series of conferences held by FIFA.[66] Wenger was a member of the football governing body's technical committee, responsible for analysing the 1994 World Cup, and made a presentation to coaches of emerging football nations.[66] His speech was closely followed by Japanese delegates, whose country had invested millions into the restructuring of its football league system.[66] Representatives of Toyota, the majority owner of Nagoya Grampus Eight soon met with Wenger and offered him the chance to become the club's manager.[66] Wenger deliberated, even though the idea of working abroad appealed to him; negotiations between the two parties lasted for two months.[67] In that time he sought the advice of his closest friends and family, and flew to Japan to watch Nagoya Grampus' striker Gary Lineker make his final appearance before his professional retirement.[68] In December 1994, Wenger agreed to become manager of Nagoya Grampus, on a two-year contract worth ¥75000000 annually.[69]
With the new season of the J.League commencing in March 1995, Wenger set about assembling his squad and backroom staff. He hired former Valenciennes manager Boro Primorac, whom he had befriended during the match-fixing scandal, as his assistant.[70] Alexandre Torres joined Nagoya after Wenger identified the defender by watching Brazilian football on the television, and the manager brought in Franck Durix and his former player Passi.[71] Nagoya finished bottom of the J.League the season before Wenger's arrival,[69] and continued their poor form into the following campaign, losing several matches in a row.[71] In response to the situation, Wenger altered his managerial style, becoming less amicable with his players and openly questioning their desire.[72] To boost morale, he took his squad to Versailles for their mid-season break, where they went through a rigorous, but creative training regime.[73] Players were expected to make decisions for themselves on the pitch, instead of relying on the manager;[72] Wenger was reported to have shouted to his players "Don't look at me to ask me what to do with the ball!"[73] and "Decide for yourself! Why don't you think it out?"[74] One player who greatly benefited from Wenger's guidance was Dragan Stojković, a midfielder whose disciplinary record improved.[75][76]
Wenger's methods had the desired effect – Nagoya won 17 games and lost nine in the second stage of the competition to finish runners-up.[77] He shortly received the J. League Manager of the Year award for 1995, while Stojković claimed the player's honour.[78] In January 1996, Wenger guided the club to their first piece of silverware as Nagoya defeated Sanfrecce Hiroshima to win the Emperor's Cup.[77] Two months later they triumphed in the Super Cup, beating Yokohama Marinos 2–0.[79] The success bolstered Nagoya's status in Japanese football, as well as Wenger's reputation; he was somewhat startled by the praise and idolisation that came his way.[79] Midway through the 1996 league season, Wenger's former club Strasbourg enquired about the possibility of him returning to manage them.[80] He turned down the offer as was earlier approached by Arsenal.[80] Dein had remained in contact with Wenger after their first meeting, and frequently sent him video tapes of matches to garner his opinions; "He was my personal pundit," the vice-chairman recalled.[81] The Arsenal board rebuffed Dein's suggestion to appoint Wenger as early as 1995, but concerns over George Graham's successor Bruce Rioch meant they were more open-minded about hiring him since his stint in Japan.[82]
Wenger managed Nagoya for the final time on 28 August 1996 and delivered a farewell speech, thanking the fans in Japanese.[82][83] Assessing his time in Japan, biographer Jasper Rees felt Wenger had left a mixed legacy at the club, as the immediate success was followed by fluctuating league finishes;[83] it was not until 2010 that Nagoya (under Stojković) won their first title.[84] Wenger continues to speak fondly of his career in Japan and once likened the country to his ancestral home: "It has beautiful things that we have lost in Europe, beautiful things that make life good."[85] He also credited the culture for improving his temperament and rediscovering his passion for the game.[86][87] Wenger returned to Japan as a television pundit for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup,[88] and a decade later took Arsenal to face Nagoya in a pre-season friendly.[89]
Arsenal
1996–97: Appointment and first season
In August 1996, Arsenal dismissed Bruce Rioch as club manager.[90] Rioch's position had become untenable after a dispute with the board over transfers, and his working relationship with Dein worsened during the course of his tenure.[90] Arsenal appointed Stewart Houston and later Pat Rice in temporary charge of the first team, while they searched for a full-time successor.[91] Although Barcelona player and manager Johan Cruyff was favourite to take over,[92] the board looked elsewhere, eventually backing Dein's proposal to hire Wenger.[93] The appointment was delayed for several weeks as Wenger was under contract at Nagoya Grampus and the club wanted time to make a final decision.[94] In the meantime the Arsenal board refused to confirm the identity of their next manager, but speculation grew that it would be Wenger once the club signed French midfielders Patrick Vieira and Rémi Garde.[95] On 22 September 1996, Wenger was unveiled as Arsenal manager, after Nagoya Grampus granted him his release.[96] He officially assumed the role on 1 October 1996.[97] At his first press conference, he told reporters: "The main reason for coming is that I love English football, the roots of the game are here. I like the spirit round the game and at Arsenal I like the spirit of the club and its potential."[98]
"At first, I thought: What does this Frenchman know about football? He wears glasses and looks more like a schoolteacher. He's not going to be as good as George [Graham]. Does he even speak English properly?"
Arsenal captain Tony Adams.[99]
Wenger's arrival at Arsenal was greeted with perplexity by some of the club's players, supporters and the local media.[nb 2] Although he was touted as a future technical director of The Football Association (FA),[101] he was a relative unknown in English football. Glenn Moore's report in The Independent, dated 24 September 1996, highlighted the mood: "It is a measure of the insularity of the English game that when Arsène Wenger's name emerged as Arsenal's favoured candidate for their vacant manager's job many supporters were asking: 'Arsène who?'"[102] Unlike his predecessors, Wenger was given control over transfers, contracts and training sessions, and the Arsenal board chose not to meddle in team affairs.[103] One of his first acts as manager was to assure the experienced players they had a future at the club, but he noted the squad was "a bit tight," and needed competition for places.[104] Wenger adopted a hands-on approach to training sessions which energised the squad and made steps to change the drinking culture that afflicted Arsenal.[105] Although he initially allowed players to have a pint of beer, they were forbidden to drink on days off and in the players' lounge.[106] He later banned his players from casually drinking together.[107] Wenger also promoted pasta as the pre-match dish, encouraged boiled chicken instead of red meat and discouraged junk food.[108] Players received optional vitamin injections and Creatine, which reduced fatigue and improved their stamina.[108]
Wenger's first match was a 2–0 away victory over Blackburn Rovers on 12 October 1996,[109] but he did suggest "one or two changes" to caretaker manager and later assistant Pat Rice in the team's defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach, a UEFA Cup match played on 25 September 1996.[110] The interference upset club captain Tony Adams, who on his first meeting with the manager expressed his disappointment: "I said to him that he had put our entire season in jeopardy by doing what he had done."[111] Wenger chose to take the criticism on board, and made an effort listening to Adams' assessment of the club.[112] This particular approach of management resonated with the other players, who were sceptical of his ideas at first. The English players often set up pranks on Wenger to relieve hostility and nicknamed him "Inspector Clouseau" because of his clumsy nature.[113] Adams said his sense of humour helped build team spirit: "Not only does Wenger love a good laugh, but he can laugh at himself. He is this gangly wise man."[114]
Malicious rumours concerning Wenger's private life surfaced during November 1996, to the extent that the City of London reported that his exit from Arsenal was imminent.[115] Having returned from a trip to Strasbourg to visit his parents, Wenger attended a press meeting and strongly refuted the claims: "If something comes out that is wrong I will attack. It is a serious matter if you can just create things that are not right."[115] Arsenal's press officer Clare Tomlinson, who was present at the news conference, recalled Wenger phoning the next day and demanding why he could not take action against the press for printing the story.[116] The culprit responsible for spreading gossip in the City later apologised to Wenger.[117] Around this time Arsenal led the Premier League, but poor form in February 1997 caused Wenger to rule out his team's chances of winning the title.[118] They finished third in his first season and missed out on Champions League qualification (occupied by Newcastle United, in second) by goal difference – the tiebreaker used to determine the ranking between teams equal on points.[119]
1997–2001: Early success
In preparation for the forthcoming season, Wenger took the Arsenal squad to Austria, which would become the club's usual pre-season base.[120] The players were given a night out as a reward for vigorous training, which midfielder Ray Parlour revealed was spent at local pub with the other English players, while the "French lads" headed to the coffee shop and smoked.[121] "How are we going to win the league this year? We're all drunk and they're all smoking," he recollected.[121] Wenger in the meantime continued fine-tuning the squad; having vetoed John Hartson's move to West Ham United in February 1997, he convinced French teenager Nicolas Anelka to join Arsenal.[122][123] He raided his old club Monaco to acquire the services of Christopher Wreh, Gilles Grimandi and Emmanuel Petit.[124] The latter two were defenders, but Wenger thought both were capable of playing in midfield.[124] To address the shortcomings of playing expansive football, winger Marc Overmars was purchased from Ajax, while Paul Merson moved to Middlesbrough.[125][126] Wenger assessed Arsenal lost the Premier League because of their poor home performances, and felt they needed more pace and power.[125]
Arsenal began the 1997–98 season well, but struggled in November; though they beat Manchester United at Highbury without the suspended Dennis Bergkamp,[127] it was their only league win in the month.[128] Defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers left the club in sixth position before Christmas and seemingly out of contention for the title.[129] Wright was booed off by supporters over his performance, which he responded to by criticising the crowd from the dressing room window.[130] Wenger called for an urgent team meeting, where "home truths were spoken, fingers pointed, players were geed up."[131] The squad dictated how the conversation went, which the senior defenders made it clear they wanted Vieira and Petit to provide cover.[132]
Such was the likelihood of Manchester United going on to retain the title, bookmaker Fred Done paid out on punters with two months of the season left.[133] Arsenal however steadily closed the gap and victory against Wimbledon in March 1998 set up a title clash between themselves and the reigning champions.[134] Wenger in the lead up to the game maintained it was possible for Arsenal to win the league, "Two or three weeks ago, the title was just a dream for us and people laughed when I said we could still do it,"[135] and suggested Manchester United were responsible for making the title race "interesting".[136] At Old Trafford, Overmars scored the decisive goal to give Arsenal a 1–0 win.[137] The victory was followed by nine consecutive league wins, the last of which was a home fixture against Everton that secured Arsenal's status as champions.[138] Wenger became the first foreign manager to win the double, when his team beat Newcastle United in the 1998 FA Cup Final.[139]
Wenger sanctioned Wright's transfer to West Ham in the summer and made Anelka his first-choice striker ahead of the 1998–99 season.[140] His decision not to bolster Arsenal's attack, coupled with Bergkamp's fear of flying meant the club entered the Champions League with just one recognised striker.[141] Their time in the competition was brief, making an exit at the group stage, and domestically their form was indifferent.[142] Needing to strengthen their attacking options, Arsenal signed Nwankwo Kanu in January 1999, and his presence reinvigorated the team as they embarked on a run similar to last season.[143] They however finished second behind Manchester United, losing their slender advantage once they lost their penultimate match.[144] United also eliminated Arsenal in a FA Cup semi-final replay after extra time; Wenger afterwards said: "... it was a smashing game, and in the end the luckiest won."[145] In August 1999, Anelka joined Real Madrid having threatened to strike if Arsenal did not grant him a move abroad.[146] Wenger renewed his forward line by signing Davor Šuker from Real, and the club spent £11.5 million on Thierry Henry,[147] who joined after seven "injury-interrupted" months at Juventus.[148] It was Wenger's intention to partner Anelka with Henry, but the former's departure meant the plan was scrapped.[149]
The following seasons were comparatively barren. Arsenal again exited the Champions League at the group stage, but dropped down to the UEFA Cup.[150] Wenger guided his team to the final, where they lost to Galatasaray on penalties.[151] In the league, Arsenal finished 18 points behind Manchester United as runners-up, and though they closed the gap to eight points in 2000–01, they never posed a serious title challenge.[152] The trophy drought continued past 2001, when Michael Owen scored two late goals for Liverpool to beat Arsenal in the FA Cup Final.[153] Wenger rued his team's inability to make possession count, but refused to blame individuals, namely Henry, for missing chances.[154]
2001–06: Second double, Invincibles, and leaving Highbury
The cup defeat prompted Wenger make changes to his squad.[155] He signed young England internationals Richard Wright and Francis Jeffers, midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst from Rangers as a partner for Vieira, and convinced defender Sol Campbell to join from local rivals Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer.[156][157] Campbell's arrival strengthened a defence which was going through a transition phase from 1999 and 2001; Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn moved on in this period, club graduate Ashley Cole displaced Sylvinho as Wenger's first choice left back, while Lauren acted as Lee Dixon's understudy.[158] Midfielders Fredrik Ljungberg and Robert Pirès – brought in during preceding transfer windows, had now established themselves into the first team.[159][160] The 2001–02 season brought much success as Wenger led Arsenal to the double once more.[161] The crowning moment was the win against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the penultimate game of the season.[161] Sylvain Wiltord scored the winning goal to secure the club's 12th league championship and third double; four days earlier, Arsenal beat Chelsea 2–0 in the 2002 FA Cup Final.[162] The team scored in every single league fixture and were unbeaten away from home that season.[163][164]
Wenger appointed Vieira as club captain following Adams' retirement, and made few additions to his double-winning squad, signing defender Pascal Cygan, midfielder Gilberto Silva and utility player Kolo Touré.[165] He was confident his side would retain the league and told the media: "Nobody will finish above us in the league. It wouldn't surprise me if we were to go unbeaten for the whole of the season."[166][nb 3] Arsenal set a new top-flight record in their opening game of the 2002–03 season; a 2–0 victory against Birmingham City was their 14th league win in succession.[168] They continued their fine start by overhauling Nottingham Forest's top-flight record of 22 away league matches without defeat and later surpassed Manchester United's Premier League total of 29 matches unbeaten.[169] Arsenal lost to Everton in October 2002, which began a run of four matches without a win.[170] Though Wenger's team built an eight-point lead over challengers Manchester United by March 2003, they were overhauled in the final weeks of the season.[171] The title race shifted in United's favour when Bolton Wanderers came from behind to draw 2–2 against Arsenal.[171] Wenger showed moments of exasperation during the match by loosening his tie and bellowing orders from the touchline. Journalist Phil McNulty wrote that Wenger's demeanor "... spoke of someone who had the title in his grasp but now saw it slipping from his fingers."[172] Arsenal beat Southampton 1–0 to retain the FA Cup at the end of the campaign.[173]
During pre-season, Wenger arranged a meeting with the players to examine why they lost the league.[174] Martin Keown felt the manager harmed their chances by boasting they could go the season unbeaten.[174] "Look, I said that because I think you can do it. But you must really want it," was Wenger's reply, as he believed the squad had the right mixture of technique, intelligence and physique.[175] Arsenal did little transfer business given the financial demands that came with their new stadium project; their only major signing was Jens Lehmann, who replaced David Seaman as goalkeeper. Wenger retained his best players, despite interest shown by Chelsea's new owner Roman Abramovich. Six games into the league season, Arsenal were involved in a brawl against Manchester United; the ill-feeling stemmed from Vieira's dismissal late on. Several players were charged and fined accordingly by the FA and Wenger apologised for his team's overreaction.[176] The team restored their image with an entertaining performance against Newcastle; Henry Winter in his match report wrote: "[Henry's opening goal] encapsulated all that is good about Arsenal, the slick passing and intelligent movement."[177] Wenger led his side to league triumph without a single defeat – an accomplishment last achieved by Preston North End 115 years before, in the Football League.[178] "Somebody threw me a T-shirt after the trophy was presented which read 'Comical Wenger says we can go the whole season unbeaten.' I was just a season too early!," he remarked during the club's victory parade.[179]
Arsenal's run of 49 league games unbeaten came to an end with a 2–0 defeat at Manchester United on 24 October 2004.[180] The team under Wenger's management enjoyed another relatively strong league campaign in 2004–05, but finished second to Chelsea, who ended the season 12 points in front.[181] Consolation again came in the FA Cup; Arsenal defeated Manchester United on penalties, after a goalless final.[182] The emergence of Cesc Fàbregas in the starting lineup prompted Wenger in July 2005 to sell Vieira.[183] He noticed the two as a midfield pairing was ineffective, and felt keeping Fàbregas would benefit the club's future.[183] The 2005–06 season marked the beginning of a transitional period for Arsenal as it was the club's final season at Highbury.[184] The team finished fourth in the Premier League and outside the top two for the first time under Wenger's tenure.[185] In Europe however, Wenger assembled an inexperienced defence that beat Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal and conceded no goals in the knockout stages of the Champions League.[186] They progressed to the final in May 2006, but ended the competition as runners-up to Barcelona.[187]
2006–11: Stadium move and transition
In the summer of 2006, Wenger oversaw Arsenal's relocation to the Emirates Stadium.[188] During the construction phase, he described the move as "vital" to the club's financial future and believed Arsenal were better able to attract the best players.[189] Moving to the new stadium, however, presented several problems in the short term, as the club prioritised financing it over the team.[190] Wenger sold some of his experienced players such as Campbell, Lauren and Pirès, sanctioned Cole's move to Chelsea in part exchange for defender William Gallas,[191] and integrated young players like Theo Walcott and Alex Song into the first team. His youthful team contested the League Cup final in February 2007 and were the youngest to play in a major English cup final, averaging 21 years.[192] They ultimately came up short against Chelsea, who won the match 2–1.[193] Arsenal finished fourth in the 2006–07 league season;[194] Wenger had ruled out their title chances following defeat to Bolton in November 2006.[195] The team's lack of directness and efficiency of possession was a familiar theme during the campaign;[196] Guardian journalist Daniel Taylor observed two matches into the league season: "The most watchable side are frequently the most frustrating. Arsenal are wonderfully incisive yet infuriatingly blunt."[197]
In April 2007 Dein left Arsenal due to "irreconcilable differences" about the future of the club.[198] Wenger described it as a "sad day for Arsenal," and sought assurances from the board over his future as well as reasons for Dein's departure.[199] The instability at board level influenced club captain Henry's decision to leave Arsenal in June 2007, which led to uncertainty over Wenger's position.[200] In September 2007, Wenger signed a new three-year extension, insisting that he remained committed to "the club of my life."[201] Arsenal flourished in Henry's absence, with Emmanuel Adebayor, Mathieu Flamini and Fàbregas playing a more prominent role in the 2007–08 season.[202][203] Defeat to Middlesbrough in December 2007 ended a run of 22 league matches unbeaten,[204] but Arsenal soon built a five-point lead over Manchester United.[205] A career-threatening injury to striker Eduardo against Birmingham City on 23 February 2008 acted as a turning point in Arsenal's season.[206] Wenger, incensed at the aggressive tactics of opponents, called for a ban on tackler Martin Taylor in his post-match interview; he later retracted the comment.[207] Arsenal's form subsequently suffered, and a run of three consecutive draws in March allowed first Manchester United and then Chelsea to overhaul them as they finished the season in third.[205]
Arsenal made a troubled start to Wenger's twelfth season. The club relieved Gallas of his captaincy, after he openly questioned his team-mates, and Wenger appointed Fàbregas as his successor.[208] Arsenal secured fourth position in the league and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup, but it was a fourth season without silverware.[209] Wenger was subject to criticism from Arsenal fans; he praised the travelling supporters, though referred to a section of the home crowd as treating him "like a murderer".[210] Arsenal finished third in the league in 2009–10[211] and the team were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Barcelona.[212] Wenger had reached a landmark in October 2009, surpassing George Allison to become Arsenal's longest-serving manager.[213]
In August 2010, Wenger signed a further three-year contract to continue his managerial career at Arsenal.[214] His team were on course for a quadruple trophy haul in 2010–11, before defeat to Birmingham City in the 2011 Football League Cup Final, when a mix-up between goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny and defender Laurent Koscielny allowed Obafemi Martins to score the winning goal.[215] This was followed by a run of just two wins in 11 Premier League games, to take them from title contenders to a fourth-place finish;[216] they made exits in the FA Cup and the Champions League to Manchester United and Barcelona respectively.[217]
2011–present: Rebuilding and renewed success
Wenger's preparations for the 2011–12 season were disrupted by player unrest. Though he insisted none of his top players would leave the club, Fàbregas eventually moved to Barcelona, while Gaël Clichy and Samir Nasri joined Manchester City.[218] Suspensions and injuries left Wenger fielding an understrength side against Manchester United on 29 August 2011; Arsenal were trounced 8–2, which represented their worst defeat in 115 years.[219] Needing to address the squad's lack of depth, Wenger completed a series of deals in the final days of the summer transfer window.[218] He mostly brought in experienced players, such as Yossi Benayoun on loan from Chelsea, Everton's Mikel Arteta and Germany international Per Mertesacker.[220] By October, Arsenal had made their worst start to a season in 58 years, losing four of their opening seven matches.[221] However, the team soon harmonised, and in the same month club captain Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Chelsea 5–3.[222] Despite another season of no silverware, Wenger guided Arsenal to third position in the Premier League, thus qualifying for the Champions League for a 15th successive campaign.[223] Van Persie had scored 37 goals, in his first injury-free season for the club.[224] He, however, grew disillusioned with Arsenal's transfer policy, and decided not to renew his contract, with one year remaining. When Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson learnt of the situation, he called Wenger to push through a deal and Van Persie agreed to join Manchester United in August 2012.[225] The club purchased strikers Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski in anticipation of the sale.[226]
The 2012–13 season was Wenger's first without his assistant Rice, who retired in late Spring.[227] Bould was named as his replacement, who specialised in defensive work.[227] Arsenal struggled to find consistency in the league and were 12 points behind leaders Manchester United by November 2012.[228] A month later, Wenger came under strong criticism following his side's exit in the League Cup to Bradford City, when a full-strength team lost on penalties to opposition three divisions below.[229] Another cup defeat, this time to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, ended Arsenal's realistic trophy chances for an eighth season, as their Champions League opponents were Bayern Munich.[230] Before the first leg, Wenger had criticised the media for reporting he was about to sign a contract extension, and said of the Blackburn game: "We lost it in the last 20 minutes so there are a lot of superficial analyses that you cannot accept. Because one guy says something, everybody goes the same way."[231]
Arsenal's chances of finishing in the top four appeared over by March, after defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.[232] With ten league matches remaining, they were seven points behind their rivals, and Wenger admitted his side could not afford any more dropped points.[232] He made changes to the side for their second leg against Bayern, dropping captain Thomas Vermaelen and Szczęsny, in place of Koscielny and Łukasz Fabiański.[233] Though Arsenal were eliminated on the away goals rule,[234] Wenger's adjustments worked in the league as his team went on a run to overhaul Tottenham for a second successive season.[233] A win on the final day against Newcastle United secured fourth position, which Wenger described as a relief.[235]
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Arsenal opened the 2013–14 season with a home defeat to Aston Villa, which prompted boos from the supporters.[236] The club's transfer inactivity over the summer was criticised, but Wenger assessed: "We could have won the game today with the players on the pitch, I'm convinced of that."[236] In the final week of the transfer window, he re-signed Flamini and sanctioned the club record signing of Mesut Özil from Real Madrid, totalling £42.5 million.[237] Wenger was instrumental in the latter deal; he phoned and spoke to the German in his native language, convincing him that a move to England would enhance his career.[238] Arsenal's form thereafter improved and Aaron Ramsey's goalscoring spree elevated the team to first position by the New Year. Poor performances in the big games, however, blighted Arsenal's title credentials; a 5–1 defeat to Liverpool in February 2014, with four goals conceded in the first 20 minutes,[239] was followed by a 6–0 loss to Chelsea, a month later.[240] The game at Stamford Bridge was Wenger's 1,000th match in charge of Arsenal, and he described it as "... a good hiding. You don't prepare all week to experience that."[241] Arsenal consolidated fourth position in the league, and Wenger guided his team to FA Cup success, as they came from two goals down to beat Hull City in the final.[242] At the end of the season, Wenger signed another three-year extension to his Arsenal contract.[243] He strengthened the squad by signing Alexis Sánchez from Barcelona in July 2014, and during the course of 2014–15 promoted Francis Coquelin and Héctor Bellerín into the first team.[244][245] Wenger won his sixth FA Cup in May 2015, which placed him alongside George Ramsay as the most successful manager in the competition's history.[246]
Approach and philosophy
Tactics
Wenger was inspired by Borussia Mönchengladbach as a child and was later influenced by Total Football, a playing style developed by Rinus Michels at Ajax in the 1970s.[247] He recollected the team as having "perfect players everywhere and that was the sort of football I wanted to be playing myself."[248] At Monaco for a number of years, he employed a 4–4–2 formation, though he did trial 4–3–3, akin to Michels'.[249] Wenger is an advocate of 4–4–2 as "no other formation is as efficient in covering space,"[250] but has used it sparingly in recent seasons.[251]
| Arsenal's line up against Reading in November 2007.[252] Wenger's decision to play Alexander Hleb further up in games increased the team's efficiency.[253] |
Throughout his managerial career, Wenger has trusted his players to perform and learn from their own mistakes,[254] a quality Vieira regards as his biggest strength and weakness.[255] Wenger encourages sportsmen to show intuition, and makes observations rather than explicitly giving orders.[256] Campbell reflected that his former manager "puts a lot of onus on players to change the game" and "he wants certain players – especially in the last third – to be able to produce it and give something different."[257] When Wenger joined Arsenal, he spoke of his desire to see "... real, modern football. That means compact lines, of zones, of quick, coordinated movements with a good technique."[258] He characteristically focuses on the strengths of his teams, rather than looking for areas to exploit the opposition.[254]
"For me, football is first and foremost a game. It has a framework, yet should leave some part for freedom of expression. In France nowadays we seem to have found the right balance between team organisation and the freedom allowed to the player."
Wenger in an interview with The Sunday Times, April 2004.[256]
During a match against Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1996, Wenger presided over Rice's caretaker duties and ordered the team to switch from their preferred 3–5–2 formation to 4–4–2.[256] The tactical change did not have its desired effect, as Arsenal lost the game having led before Wenger's half-time instruction.[256] For much of the 1996–97 season, Arsenal continued to play 3–5–2 as it was the only formation the defenders were comfortable with, and injuries unsettled the side.[259][260] In Wenger's second season at the club, he reinstated 4–4–2 and focused on strengthening the front six, by signing wingers Overmars and Luís Boa Morte and partnering Vieira with Petit.[260][261] According to Jonathan Wilson, the system was similar to 4–3–3, as Overmars often pushed higher up the field and Parlour played alongside Vieira and Petit to solidify the midfield.[262] Needing to compensate deficiencies in attack the following season, Wenger relied on his experienced defence to direct games, which conceded 17 goals in 38 league matches.[263] From then on, Wenger deployed an unconventional 4–4–2 with a greater emphasis on attack and movement; his teams between 2001 and 2004 were dominant on the left flank.[264]
By the 2005–06 season, clubs in England were increasingly in favour of using the 4–5–1 system.[265] Wenger, having earlier suggested he would never resort to a negative system,[266] later adopted the formation for Champions League matches.[267] The decision to pack the midfield and play a lone striker resulted in Arsenal reaching the final.[267] With Fábregas breaking into the first team, Wenger chose to deviate from their counter-attacking style, to a more possession based one.[268] In 2009–10, he instituted a fluid 4–3–3 formation to benefit from Fàbregas' creativity,[269] and since the player's departure remodelled the system to 4–1–4–1[270] and 4–2–3–1.[271]
Wenger has been able to implement his entertaining vision of football, particularly at Arsenal. His team's 5–1 win against Portsmouth in March 2004 was likened to "the magnificently fluid Ajax of the early 70s,"[272] and greeted with a standing ovation by the opposition supporters, as the Arsenal players left the field.[273] Wenger's style of play has however been criticised for inefficiency and a lack of variation to go with technique.[274][275] He is not renowned for making game-changing substitutions, nor has his tactics helped his teams overcome flexible opponents.[276] His ideals are noticeably different to the pragmatic approach of his rivals, though he has assembled teams to produce disciplined performances, markedly the 2005 FA Cup Final against Manchester United.[277] Defeats in the big games during 2013–14 led to Wenger compromising his attack-minded principles in favour of keeping it tight.[278] The team's approach has been less predictable than when it was built around Fàbregas; Sir Alex Ferguson commented in his autobiography that he devised a template to beat Arsenal which involved "good players who can intercept."[279]
Preparation
Wenger leads training sessions, but delegates responsibility to his coaching staff, who predominantly work with the players.[280] He splits the squad into groups, observing and supervising the drills.[280] A typical training session under Wenger lasts 90 minutes, which is timed and staged precisely, and includes coordination techniques, positional play and small-sided games.[281] Wenger spends the day before a match focusing on the mental and tactical approach of his squad and varies his training style.[281]
Wenger regards a well-balanced diet as an essential part of a player's preparation. He was influenced by his time in Japan, where "... the whole way of life there is linked to health. Their diet is basically boiled vegetables, fish and rice. No fat, no sugar. You notice when you live there that there are no fat people."[282] At Arsenal, Wenger brought in dieticians to explain the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and acquired the help of Philippe Boixel, an osteopath for the France national team to realign the players' bodies each month.[108] Plyometrics, exercises designed to strengthen the muscles, were introduced and Wenger routinely made players stretch before and after matches.[283] Until 2004, he encouraged his players to take Creatine for increased stamina, later stopping when he noticed side-effects.[284] The innovations had a desirable effect on the team as it prolonged the careers of his defence,[282] and made Arsenal stronger in the second half of seasons.[285] Though Wenger's methods were common in Italian football, they had been unsuccessfully trialled in England until his arrival.[nb 4]
In later years, Wenger's training regime has come under criticism, given his squad's poor injury record.[287] From 2004–05 to 2014–15, Arsenal's players lost 13,161 days through injury, significantly more than Chelsea's (7,217).[287] In 2014, Wenger acquired the help of fitness coach Shad Forsythe to solve the problem; statistics revealed a year later that Arsenal's average injury length dropped more than 25% in Forsythe's first season.[288]
Recruitment and spending policy
Youth development and scouring for talent abroad is central to Wenger's recruitment policy. He relies on a network of scouts and personal contacts to find and attract talented footballers to play under him. Wenger's strategy is aided by data; for instance, the decision to sign Flamini in 2004 came about as he was looking at statistics to find an understudy to Vieira.[289] To examine the mental state of a young footballer, he uses psychometric tests conducted by psychologist Jacques Crevoisier once every two years.[290] Wenger prides himself on nurturing talent, saying in an interview: "I believe one of the best things about managing people is that we can influence lives in a positive way. That's basically what a manager is about. When I can do that, I am very happy."[291]
In his early managerial years, Wenger recognised the potential of football in Africa, which influenced his transfer dealings at Monaco.[292] On the recommendation of Claude Le Roy, he signed Liberian George Weah, who later became the first African to be named FIFA World Player of the Year.[293] Weah, while receiving his award from FIFA president João Havelange and vice-president Lennart Johansson invited Wenger up to the stage, spontaneously giving his medal to the manager, as a token of his appreciation.[294] During his final years at Monaco, Wenger worked with Roger Mendy, a Senegalese defender regarded in 1991 as one of the ten best African footballers by France Football,[293] and Nigerian Victor Ikpeba, a forward who earnt the accolade of African Player of the Year.[295] Wenger also fast-tracked young players such as Petit and Lilian Thuram, and handed debuts to Henry and David Trezeguet.[296]
In England, Wenger has used his extensive knowledge of the European transfer market and rulings – particularly in his native France – to recruit players. His first purchase as Arsenal manager was Anelka from Paris Saint-Germain for £500,000, a deal which upset the French club as they received little remuneration.[297] The player's subsequent sale to Real Madrid just two years later for £23.5 million highlighted Wenger's shrewdness in the transfer market, as he used the money to fund the club's new training centre in London Colney.[298][299] He remained in contact with Guillou's Abidjan-based academy, where he discovered future Arsenal players Touré and Emmanuel Eboué,[300] and successfully persuaded Fàbregas, Bellerín and Ignasi Miquel, amongst other La Masia graduates to leave Barcelona and join him.[301] Wenger's recruitment of young players came under criticism from Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who disputed it was tantamount to child trafficking.[302] Wenger refuted the analogy and said: "Look at Santa Cruz at Blackburn. Ask him what age he came to Bayern Munich. Then you have an answer for Rummenigge."[302]
When Arsenal moved to the Emirates Stadium, Wenger prioritised investing in youth instead of purchasing experienced players.[303] He described it as a way of creating an "identity" with Arsenal: "I felt it would be an interesting experiment to see players grow together with these qualities, and with a love for the club. It was an idealistic vision of the world of football."[304] The departure of Dein, coupled with the saturation of the transfer market, meant Wenger struggled to recruit players as efficiently as before.[305] The youth set-up did not replicate the success of the late 1990s and early 2000s, though Arsenal consistently finished fourth or higher in the league between 2006 and 2011. The club earnt a reputation of functioning as a "feeder club" to bigger teams, as Wenger struggled to keep hold of his best players.[306] He described this period as "very sensitive," because of the financial restrictions that came with the stadium move.[307] Since the 2011–12 season, Wenger has reverted to buying proven talent,[308] and blended experience with youth in domestic cup competitions.[309] Arsenal have benefited from increased revenue since the Emirates move, and negotiating new sponsorship deals has allowed Wenger to make marquee signings such as Özil and Sánchez.
Observing Wenger's transfer policy in 2009, Sir Alex Ferguson commented that it lacked balance and needed defensive players to solidfy the Arsenal team.[310] The players Wenger recruits have often been criticised for their character and leadership capabilities; footballer Joey Barton suggested it was because the manager discouraged them from commanding: "Sometimes you need someone to galvanise and that might be a shouter and bawler. It may not be Arsene's way, but I think they lack that."[311] Wenger is perceived as frugal given his inactivity in transfer windows, but he has denied the stereotype: "Of course people say always to buy but you cannot make careers and lives of people and on top of that buy every time you have an injured player. You know I have the wrong reputation. I'm not scared to spend money. The job of a manager is not to spend as much money."[312]
Relations with others
Wenger's relations with his fellow football managers and officials have not always been genial. In a joint-interview with The Times and Daily Mail in 2009, he explained that his reluctance to trust other managers had been mistaken for discourtesy: "There are managers I respect, and I respect what they do, but you cannot be completely friendly and open up."[183] He is well known for his rivalry with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson;[313] beginning in 1997, the dispute reached its culmination in the "Pizzagate" incident at Old Trafford in October 2004.[314] After Manchester United ended Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten Premier League run after being awarded a dubious penalty, a member of the Arsenal squad allegedly threw a pizza at the opposition in the tunnel.[315] Wenger accused United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy of being "a cheat" in a post-match television interview, and was reprimanded with a £15,000 fine by the Football Association.[316] Both managers later agreed to tone down their words, in an attempt to defuse the rivalry.[317] In his autobiography, Ferguson wrote that the events of "Pizzagate" had "scrambled Arsène's brain" and caused their relationship to break down for almost five years.[318] By 2009, Wenger noted his rivalry with Ferguson had become "respectful," as Arsenal had ceased competing with Manchester United for major honours.[183]
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During October and November 2005, Wenger became embroiled in a war of words with Chelsea manager José Mourinho. Mourinho accused Wenger of having an "unprofessional obsession" with Chelsea and labelled him a "voyeur."[319][320] Mourinho was quoted as saying, "He's worried about us, he's always talking about us – it's Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea."[320] Wenger responded by pointing out he was only answering journalists' questions about Chelsea, and described Mourinho's attitude as "disrespectful."[321] Mourinho later apologised and clarified that he regretted his "voyeur" comment; Wenger accepted the apology.[322] In 2014 Mourinho reopened his feud with Wenger by calling him a "specialist in failure."[323] This was in response to Wenger's comments that Chelsea were favourites for the Premier League and managers did not want to take responsibility if they failed to win the title.[323] Wenger said Mourinho's comments were "silly and disrespectful" and had embarrassed Chelsea.[324] When asked if he regretted his remark, Mourinho replied: "You have to ask him if he regrets the comments he made."[325] In October 2014, during a Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea, Wenger was involved in a touchline spat with Mourinho.[326] Wenger later apologised for his behaviour.[327]
Wenger has directed his anger towards referees when decisions have not gone his team's way. In August 2000, he was charged with "alleged threatening behaviour and physical intimidation" towards fourth official Paul Taylor, after Arsenal's 1–0 defeat at Sunderland on the opening day of the 2000–01 season.[328] An FA disciplinary commission found Wenger guilty; he received a 12-match touchline ban and a fine of four weeks' salary.[329] He successfully appealed the ban, but was reprimanded and fined £10,000 for his actions.[330] Following the 2007 Football League Cup Final, he called a linesman a liar, for stating Emmanuel Adebayor aimed a punch at Chelsea's Frank Lampard.[331] This led to an investigation by the FA, a fine of £2,500 and a warning.[332]
In March 2011, Wenger was charged with improper conduct by UEFA, over comments made to referee Massimo Busacca, after his team's defeat to Barcelona.[333] He was fined €10,000 and suspended for one UEFA club competition match; however, the ban was later extended to a further two games, after Wenger was found guilty of communicating with Arsenal's bench while serving a touchline ban against Udinese.[334][335] A year later, Wenger was charged for post-match comments made about referee Damir Skomina, in Arsenal's defeat to Milan in the Champions League.[336] He was fined £33,000 and handed a three-match touchline ban in the competition.[336]
Plaudits and legacy
At Arsenal, Wenger has enjoyed a great deal of support and backing from the club board of directors, who have demonstrated exceptional faith in the manager and his long-term vision.[337] His arrival at the club prompted a change in their football style – once derided as "Boring, boring Arsenal" for a lack of creativity,[338] pundit Alan Hansen described the 2004 team as "quite simply the most fluid, devastating team the British Isles has seen,"[339] while manager Brian Clough once quipped: "Arsenal caress a football the way I dreamed of caressing Marilyn Monroe."[340] Wenger himself reflected that his greatest legacy at Arsenal would be the style he implemented.[341] Supporters regularly display banners such as "Arsène knows" and "In Arsène we trust" during home matches, though equally there have been a growing number of protests against his management.[342]
 "Arsène Wenger – Profile"First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2011 |
Dein described Wenger as the most important manager in the club's history: "Arsène's a miracle worker. He's revolutionised the club. He's turned players into world-class players. Since he has been here, we have seen football from another planet."[343] Former Watford manager Graham Taylor said of Wenger in 2002: "I believe his biggest contribution to football is getting across the idea that players have to prepare right and look after themselves".[344] Wenger's loyalty towards financial fair play and handling of Arsenal's debt since their stadium move has earnt him praise, not least from American baseball general manager Billy Beane, who in particular lauded his transfer strategy.[345] A survey in 2007 found Wenger was the only Premier League manager to have made a profit on transfers,[346] and between 2004 and 2009, he made an average profit of £4.4 million per season on transfers, far more than any other club.[347]
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Though Wenger has established Arsenal as UEFA Champions League regulars, he has yet to win the European Cup, or translated his domestic success in other continental competitions – often considered a blemish on his managerial career.[348] writer Michael Calvin argues despite the European failings, Wenger should still be considered one of the greats in football: "[He] has been the best, most influential manager of the modern era. His job has involved managing change, and all the hypocrisy which comes with that. In a world where incoherence is routinely hailed as innovation, he has been a true visionary."[349] Wenger's stubbornness to follow his idealistic vision of football has been heavily criticised during his second decade at Arsenal; Henry Winter in 2016 reasoned the Frenchman's methods no longer gave him an advantage over others, and he needed to adapt or resign.[350] Winter also suggested the club was content with lucrative top-four finishes, and the manager needed tough individuals to challenge him.[350] Ferguson however expressed admiration in Wenger's consistency and obstinate nature: "He stays with what he believes in. And I think people who do that are outstanding coaches."[351]
Wenger was awarded France's highest decoration, the Légion d'Honneur, in 2002.[352] In the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2003, he and fellow Frenchman Gérard Houllier were awarded honorary OBEs for their services to football.[353] At Arsenal's valedictory campaign at Highbury throughout the 2005–06 season, supporters showed appreciation by holding a "Wenger Day" as one of various themed matchdays. It was held on his 56th birthday, on 22 October 2005, in a league match against Manchester City.[354] Wenger was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006, along with former England manager Ron Greenwood.[355] Furthermore, a commissioned bronze bust of Wenger, similar to the earlier version of Herbert Chapman, was unveiled as a tribute to him by the board of directors of Arsenal, at the club's annual general meeting in October 2007.[356] Wenger had an asteroid, 33179 Arsènewenger, named after him[357] by the astronomer Ian P. Griffin, who states Arsenal as his favourite football club.[358]
In May 2016, the Stade Arsène Wenger was officially opened near Strasbourg, where Wenger was born. The stadium is the new home of USL Dippinheim and holds a capacity of 500 people.[359]
Increase in worldwide players
Wenger was one of the first managers in English football to scout abroad for talent. His double-winning team of 1998 was described by editor Jason Cowley as "... model of racial and multicultural integration. They were the first truly globalised team."[360] Richard Jolly writing for The National added that Wenger aided the Premier League's globalisation and "showed the merit of hiring foreign managers on the basis of their record abroad."[361] Wenger himself felt he had changed attitudes towards foreign managers in England:
There was a history and belief in England that the foreign manager could not be successful. Now you have a different feeling, now you think only foreign managers can be successful. That is wrong as well. I believe I contributed to the change in attitude about foreign managers. That can look pretentious but I don't think it is at all. I can show some articles where people tried to prove that the foreign managers can never win an English championship. That has changed and I have certainly contributed to that. But I am also one of the few who also defends English managers.[362]
The continued influx of foreign players at Arsenal has, however, attracted criticism. In a league match against Crystal Palace on 14 February 2005, Arsenal fielded a 16-man squad that featured no British players for the first time in the club's history. This prompted Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor to express it would begin "a worrying pattern for English football".[363] A year later, manager Alan Pardew commented that Arsenal's Champions League success was "not necessarily a triumph for British football".[364] Wenger saw the issue of nationality as irrelevant and said, "When you represent a club, it's about values and qualities, not about passports".[365] Other pundits including Trevor Brooking, the director of football development at the FA, have defended Wenger. Brooking has stated that a lack of English players in "one of England's most successful clubs" was more of a reflection on England's limited talent pool rather than on Wenger, an opinion shared by youth team coach and ex-Liverpool player Craig Johnston.[366][367]
Several English players have started their careers at Arsenal under Wenger, such as Ashley Cole, David Bentley and Matthew Upson,[368] and many continue to build careers at the club, namely Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere.[369] Wenger commented that an advantage of building his team around British players was the guarantee of stability.[370]
Team indiscipline and fair play
In his early years at Arsenal, Wenger was scrutinised for the club's poor disciplinary record; Winter in 2003 described it as "... little short of a crime-wave",[371] while chairman Peter Hill-Wood admitted the players' conduct was unacceptable.[372] Between September 1996 and February 2014, the team received 100 red cards. Wenger has often tried to defend his players, involved in controversial incidents on the field, by saying that he has not seen the incident; this is an option he resorts to when there is no "rational explanation" to defend him, and that he has the player's best interests in mind.[373][374] However, in both 2004 and 2005, Arsenal topped the Premier League's Fair Play League tables for sporting behaviour and finished second in 2006.[375][376][377] Their record as one of the most sporting clubs in the division continued up to 2009, where the team featured in the top four of the Fair Play table.[378][379] Wenger's team again topped the fair play table for the 2009–10 season.[380]
In February 1999, Wenger offered Sheffield United a replay of their FA Cup fifth round match immediately after the match had finished, due to the controversial circumstances in which it was won.[381] The decisive goal was scored by Overmars after Kanu failed to return the ball to the opposition; it was kicked into touch to allow Sheffield United's Lee Morris to receive treatment for an injury.[382] Arsenal went on to win the replayed match 2–1.[383]
Personal life
Wenger was married to former basketball player Annie Brosterhous, with whom he has one daughter, Léa (born 1997),[384] and lives in Totteridge, London.[6] Wenger and Brosterhous separated in 2015.[385] He spends his leisure time predominantly studying football matches—"I watch games on most days"—and has an interest in politics.[386] Away from managerial duties, he acted as a football consultant for French television station TF1 from 2004 to 2014,[387] and has worked for beIN Sports since 2016.[388] Wenger is a world brand ambassador for FIFA World Cup sponsor Castrol.[389] As part of the arrangement, he has conducted several training camps for international youth teams worldwide to provide input to the Castrol Performance Index, FIFA's official ratings system.[390]
He has authored a book on football management exclusively for the Japanese market, Shōsha no Esupuri (勝者のエスプリ lit. The Spirit of Conquest) in English, published by Japan Broadcast Publishing (a subsidiary of NHK) in August 1997.[391] The book highlights his managerial philosophy, ideals and values, as well as his thoughts on Japanese football and the game as a whole.[6]
Wenger is a Roman Catholic, and he attributes his outlook and values to his religious upbringing.[392] He grew up speaking French and German, and has learnt English, Spanish and Italian.[393] He also knows some Japanese.[394]
In 2010, Wenger appealed for privacy after a British newspaper alleged he had an affair with a French singer. Wenger said in a statement that he wished to deal with the matter privately.[395]
Career statistics
Playing statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Mutzig | 1969–70 | CFA | — | |||||||
| 1970–71 | Division 3 | — | ||||||||
| 1971–72 | Division 3 | — | ||||||||
| 1972–73 | Division 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | |||||
| FC Mulhouse | 1973–74 | Ligue 2 | 25 | 2 | — | 25 | 2 | |||
| 1974–75 | Ligue 2 | 31 | 2 | — | 31 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 56 | 4 | — | 56 | 4 | |||||
| ASPV Strasbourg | 1975–76 | Bas-Rhin | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | |||
| 1976–77 | Division d'Honneur | 5 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 1977–78 | Division 3 | — | ||||||||
| Total | 8 | 1 | — | 8 | 1 | |||||
| RC Strasbourg | 1978–79 | Ligue 1 | 2 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1979–80 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 1980–81 | Ligue 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 67 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 80 | 6 | ||
Managerial statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D[nb 5] | L | Win % | |||
| AS Nancy | 1 July 1984 | 1 July 1987 | 114 | 33 | 30 | 51 | 28.9 |
| AS Monaco | 1 July 1987 | 17 September 1994 | 266 | 130 | 53 | 83 | 48.9 |
| Nagoya Grampus Eight[400] | 1 February 1995 | 30 September 1996 | 87 | 49 | 4 | 34 | 56.3 |
| Arsenal | 1 October 1996 | Present | 1,142 | 655 | 267 | 220 | 57.4 |
| Total | 1,595 | 865 | 350 | 380 | 54.2 | ||
Honours
Playing honours
- Strasbourg
Managerial honours
See alsoNotes
References
Sources
Further reading
External links
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