One of the game’s iconic managers is set to step down at the end of the season.
Arsene Wenger announced on Friday that he will leave Arsenal at the end of the campaign, ending a 21-and-a-half year tenure as manager of the Premier League club.
#MerciArsène pic.twitter.com/7wqOwveCfz
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 20, 2018
“After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season,” he said in the statement. “I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years. I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.
“I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special. I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high. To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club. My love and support for ever.”
Wenger led Arsenal to three league titles and seven FA Cups during his tenure, with the famous “Invincibles” season of 2003-04 being his greatest achievement. The past few seasons, however, have been less successful as Arsenal is set for the team’s lowest league finish under Wenger this season.
Arsenal added that the club will make an appointment of a new manager “as soon as possible”.
While the search for a manager will likely go into the summer and include a number of candidates, one that will often be mentioned will be NYCFC’s Patrick Vieira. The Frenchman, who played under Wenger, has been one of several candidates already linked with the job and was praised by Wenger himself recently.
“He’s a guy who has the potential one day, yes,” Wenger said of the potential of the club hiring Vieira. “I think he does very well. But overall, after that, this Premier League is special, you know. You have to come in.
“There are plenty of former players who played here who have potential and the intelligence and the knowledge to do it. So there’s plenty of choice, don’t worry for that.”
His undefeated team that won the title about 15 years ago was one of my all time favorite teams. They played such beautiful football, they were a joy to watch. I remember one game when it seemed like they completed every single pass. Arsenal under Wenger qualified for the CL for something like 14 or 15 years in a row, an amazing feat For 2 or 3 years after their new stadium was built, Wenger was really restricted in how much money he could spend and lost some good players as a result (van Persie being a foremost example). The fact that he was able to keep them near the top even during that period was a great achievement.Wenger has been one of the all time greats and he will be missed.
Apparently, the UK oddsmakers have Vierra the favorite, but It’s still early. However you need to give a new coach some time to settle in and I think Arsenal will name a new coach not long after the FA Cup final, maybe even before. I do not think Wenger or Vierra would want the USMNT Job or visa-versa
Not sure being the next USA coach is a great idea. I’m sure the technical part will be there but a lot of Arsenal teams were (and still have been) inconsistent and mentally weak. You didn’t know which Arsenal you were getting week in and out, and especially defensively weak. Of course there were great teams too, but that was with a big level of talent the USA just doesn’t have right now. Then again, who knows.
Please be the next USA coach.
Next US coach?
If he is then he won’t have to answer critics who complain that he is not buying much needed players in the transfer market.