Arsène Wenger facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Arsène Wenger
OBE

Wenger in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Arsène Charles Ernest Wenger
Date of birth	(1949-10-22) 22 October 1949 (age 75)
Place of birth	Strasbourg, France
Height	1.91 m
Playing position	Midfielder
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
1987–1994	Monaco
1995–1996	Nagoya Grampus Eight
1996–2018	Arsenal
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Arsène Charles Ernest Wenger (born 22 October 1949) is a French former football manager and player. He currently works for FIFA as their Chief of Global Football Development. He was the manager of Arsenal from 1996 to 2018. During his time there, he became the longest-serving and most successful manager in the club's history. Wenger brought many changes to English football, like new ways of finding players and improving training and diets. These changes helped Arsenal become a top team and also helped football become more global in the 21st century.

Born in Strasbourg, France, Wenger grew up in Duttlenheim. His father, who managed the local village team, introduced him to football early on. After playing for several amateur clubs, Wenger earned a manager's diploma in 1981. He managed Nancy before joining Monaco in 1987. Monaco won the league championship in 1988 and the Coupe de France in 1991 under his leadership. In 1995, he became coach of Japanese team Nagoya Grampus Eight. He won the Emperor's Cup and Japanese Super Cup in his first and only year there.

Wenger became Arsenal's manager in 1996. At first, many in England were unsure about him. But he quickly made history by becoming the first foreign manager to win both the Premier League and FA Cup in 1998. This is called a "double". He led Arsenal to another double in 2002. In 2004, his team won their third league title without losing a single game. This was a huge achievement, as it had only happened once before in English football, 115 years earlier. Arsenal then set a record for the most league matches unbeaten (49 games). The club also reached its first Champions League final in 2006 and moved to the Emirates Stadium. This move meant Wenger had to focus on the club's money, which led to a nine-year period without winning a trophy. However, he guided Arsenal to more FA Cup wins in the 2010s, holding the record for most wins (seven). He left Arsenal in 2018 and retired from management.

Fans and the English press often called him "Le Professeur" (The Professor). This nickname showed his thoughtful and studious nature. Wenger is seen as one of the best managers of his time. He changed how people viewed football in England and other countries. He was praised for his exciting, attacking style of play. His teams were also known for finding and developing young football talent.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Arsène Charles Ernest Wenger was born on 22 October 1949 in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. He was the youngest of three children. He spent most of his childhood in Duttlenheim, a village about 10 miles (16 km) south-west of Strasbourg. His father, Alphonse, managed the local village football team. He introduced Arsène to football when he was about six years old.

The Wenger family owned a car parts business and a restaurant called La Croix d'Or. Before starting school, Wenger spoke the local Alsatian language dialect. He attended a Catholic primary school and later a secondary school in Obernai. Wenger loved football from a young age. He often went to games in Germany and liked the team Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Playing Career Highlights

Because Duttlenheim was a small village, it was hard to find enough players of the same age. Wenger did not play for FC Duttlenheim until he was 12. A teammate, Claude Wenger, said Arsène was not very fast. But he was good at keeping the ball and had a great view of the whole field. He also influenced his teammates. As a teenager, he was called Petit (Small). This nickname stopped when he grew taller and joined FC Duttlenheim's first team at 16.

The team did not have a tactical coach. Wenger often took charge himself. Claude Wenger said, "Arsène wasn't the captain and yet he was. It was 'You do this, you do that.' He was the leader."

Wenger's manager at RC Strasbourg, Gilbert Gress

In 1969, Wenger joined Mutzig, a third division club. Mutzig was known for playing "the best amateur football" in Alsace. Max Hild, who later became Wenger's mentor, managed the club. At 20, Wenger was considered a bit old to start a major playing career. Football was not seen as his main future. He was expected to run the family's car parts business. However, he began to learn a lot about football tactics. He often read France Football magazine. He also went to Germany with Hild to watch Bundesliga matches and study different managerial styles. During his three years at Mutzig, the club won the Coupe d'Alsace.

Wenger continued his studies. In 1971, he enrolled at the University of Strasbourg to study politics and economics. In 1973, he joined semi-professional club Mulhouse. He balanced his football career with his education. Wenger earned an economics degree a year later. He was chosen to play for the French national student squad. He traveled to Nigeria, Lebanon, and Uruguay for tournaments.

Trading card of Wenger with Strasbourg in 1979. Issued by Panini.

At Mulhouse, Paul Frantz managed Wenger. Frantz greatly influenced Wenger's ideas on nutrition and player strengths. Wenger played in midfield for Mulhouse. In 1975, he left Mulhouse and joined amateur club ASPV Strasbourg (Vauban). Vauban was a new club that was improving quickly. Wenger's three seasons there ended with the club being promoted to the third division.

Wenger as a Strasbourg player in 1980

In 1978, Max Hild joined Strasbourg as coach of the reserve team. Hild and Frantz suggested Wenger for a role working with youth players. This convinced manager Gilbert Gress to hire him. Wenger's playing career was slowing down at 28. But working for Strasbourg was his first full-time job at the club he loved. He made his debut for the first team in November 1978 in the UEFA Cup. A month later, he played against champions Monaco. At the end of the 1978–79 season, RC Strasbourg won the league. Wenger made his final appearance for the senior team in 1979.

For his last two years as a player, Wenger mostly ran Strasbourg's reserve and youth teams. He realized the importance of speaking English. He took a three-week language course at the University of Cambridge. He also studied for his coaching badge. In 1981, he received his manager's diploma in Paris.

Managerial Career Journey

Early Management: Nancy and Monaco

Wenger's coaching skills at Strasbourg impressed many. In 1983, he moved to Cannes in Ligue 2 as an assistant manager. He earned a good salary and was in charge of gathering information on opposing teams. He also helped players stay disciplined during training. Wenger was very dedicated to football. He spent his free time watching videos of opponents and his own team. Cannes did not win promotion, but they reached the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France.

In 1984, Wenger became manager of Nancy. It was a tough challenge because Nancy had a weak squad and little money. But Wenger enjoyed finding new players and trying out his ideas. In his first season, he hired a dietician to teach players about healthy eating. He also made sure players did not snack before games. Nancy finished 12th, which was a good result. Wenger sometimes moved players to new positions, which helped them play better.

Ballon d'Or winner George Weah played under Wenger at Monaco, where he won the Coupe de France.

Nancy struggled in the 1985–86 season, finishing 18th. They had to win a play-off match to avoid being relegated. They stayed in the league by beating Mulhouse 3–2. However, the club sold several good players due to money problems. Wenger had little money to work with. In his last season, Nancy finished 19th and were relegated. Despite these difficulties, Monaco offered him their vacant manager job. Wenger was allowed to leave Nancy and became Monaco manager in 1987.

Before joining Monaco, Wenger had already picked out players he wanted. He signed Glenn Hoddle from Tottenham Hotspur and Patrick Battiston. Striker Mark Hateley also joined Monaco. Monaco won the league in Wenger's first season, six points ahead of Bordeaux. In the next season, they scored more goals after signing Liberian striker George Weah. But Monaco finished third. They also reached the Coupe de France final but lost to Marseille.

Argentine striker Ramón Díaz came to Monaco under Wenger in 1989.

Monaco finished third again in 1989–90. Striker Ramón Díaz scored 15 goals. In 1991, Monaco beat league winners Marseille in the Coupe de France final with a last-minute goal. In 1991–92, Monaco finished second and lost the 1992 European Cup Winners' Cup Final to Werder Bremen. Even with German striker Jürgen Klinsmann, Monaco could not win the championship. They finished third and ninth in the following seasons. Monaco reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in April 1994, but lost to Milan. Wenger was wanted by German club Bayern Munich. Monaco did not let him leave. But a bad start to the 1994–95 season led to his dismissal on 17 September 1994.

Japanese Adventure: Nagoya Grampus Eight

After leaving Monaco, Wenger traveled to the United Arab Emirates for FIFA conferences. He was part of FIFA's technical committee, analyzing the 1994 World Cup. Japanese delegates were very interested in his speech. Representatives from Toyota, who owned Nagoya Grampus Eight, offered him the chance to manage their club. Wenger thought about it for two months. He liked the idea of working abroad. In December 1994, Wenger agreed to become manager of Nagoya Grampus on a two-year contract.

Dragan Stojković flourished under Wenger's guidance at Nagoya Grampus.

The new J.League season started in March 1995. Wenger began building his team and staff. He hired Boro Primorac as his assistant. He also signed Alexandre Torres, Franck Durix, and his former player Gérald Passi. Nagoya had finished last the season before Wenger arrived. They continued to play poorly, losing several matches. Wenger changed his style, becoming tougher with his players. To improve morale, he took the squad to Versailles for a mid-season break. They had tough but creative training. Players were expected to make decisions on the field themselves. One player who improved greatly was Dragan Stojković, a midfielder whose discipline got much better.

Wenger's methods worked. Nagoya won 17 of their next 27 games and finished runners-up in 1995. Wenger received the J. League Manager of the Year award for 1995. In January 1996, Wenger led the club to their first trophy, winning the Emperor's Cup. Two months later, they won the Super Cup. This success boosted Nagoya's standing in Japanese football and Wenger's reputation.

In mid-1996, his old club Strasbourg asked him to return. He turned them down because Arsenal had already approached him. David Dein, Arsenal's vice-chairman, had been in contact with Wenger. He often sent him videos of matches for his opinion. The Arsenal board had initially not wanted Wenger in 1995. But they were more open to hiring him after problems with their current manager, Bruce Rioch.

Wenger managed Nagoya for the last time on 28 August 1996. He gave a farewell speech, thanking the fans in Japanese. Wenger still speaks fondly of his time in Japan. He said the country helped him improve his temper and rediscover his love for the game.

Arsenal Era: 1996–2018

First Seasons and Double Wins

In August 1996, Arsenal fired Bruce Rioch. Arsenal appointed Stewart Houston and then Pat Rice as temporary managers while they looked for a new one. The board decided to hire Wenger. His appointment was delayed because he was still under contract with Nagoya Grampus. On 22 September 1996, Wenger was announced as Arsenal manager. He officially started on 1 October 1996, becoming the first Frenchman to manage in the Premier League. He told reporters he loved English football and Arsenal's spirit.

Wenger's unveiling took place at Highbury in September 1996.

Some players, fans, and media were confused by Wenger's arrival. He was not well-known in English football. One of his first actions was to tell experienced players they had a future at the club. But he also wanted more competition for places. Wenger took a very active role in training sessions. He changed the players' diets, promoting pasta before matches and encouraging boiled chicken instead of red meat. He also discouraged junk food. Players received optional vitamin injections and Creatine to reduce tiredness and improve stamina.

Wenger's first match was a 2–0 away win against Blackburn Rovers on 12 October 1996. Arsenal's captain, Tony Adams, was initially upset by some of Wenger's early decisions. But Wenger listened to Adams and built a good relationship with the players. The English players sometimes played pranks on Wenger, but his sense of humor helped team spirit.

Arsenal started the 1997–98 season well. Wenger continued to improve the squad. He signed French teenager Nicolas Anelka and players from his old club Monaco, like Christopher Wreh, Gilles Grimandi, and Emmanuel Petit. He also bought winger Marc Overmars from Ajax. Wenger felt Arsenal had lost the Premier League title the previous season because of poor home games. He wanted more speed and power in the team.

Dennis Bergkamp was a regular in Wenger's early teams.

Arsenal struggled in November 1997. But they beat Manchester United at Highbury. A loss to Blackburn Rovers left them in sixth place before Christmas. Many thought they were out of the title race. However, Arsenal steadily closed the gap. A victory against Wimbledon in March 1998 set up a crucial match against Manchester United. Wenger believed Arsenal could still win the league. At Old Trafford, Overmars scored the winning goal for a 1–0 Arsenal victory. This win was followed by nine straight league wins. The last win against Everton secured Arsenal's status as champions. Wenger became the first foreign manager to win the double when his team beat Newcastle United in the 1998 FA Cup Final.

Wenger sold Ian Wright and made Anelka his main striker for the 1998–99 season. Arsenal exited the Champions League early and had mixed domestic form. They signed Nwankwo Kanu in January 1999, which helped the team. But they finished second behind Manchester United. United also knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup. In August 1999, Anelka joined Real Madrid. Wenger used some of the money from Anelka's sale to build the Arsenal Training Centre. He also signed Davor Šuker and Thierry Henry.

The next few seasons were less successful in terms of trophies. Arsenal lost to Galatasaray in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final on penalties. They finished second in the league behind Manchester United in 1999–2000 and 2000–01. In 2001, Michael Owen scored two late goals for Liverpool to beat Arsenal in the FA Cup Final.

The Invincibles and Highbury Farewell

After the 2001 FA Cup defeat, Wenger made changes. He signed young English players Richard Wright and Francis Jeffers, midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and convinced defender Sol Campbell to join from rivals Tottenham Hotspur for free. These new players, along with others like Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires, strengthened the team. The 2001–02 season was very successful. Wenger led Arsenal to another double. They won the league by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford. Four days earlier, Arsenal beat Chelsea 2–0 in the 2002 FA Cup Final. The team scored in every league game and did not lose away from home that season.

Wenger in 2003

Wenger made Patrick Vieira captain after Tony Adams retired. He added a few new players like Pascal Cygan, Gilberto Silva, and Kolo Touré. Wenger was confident his team would win the league again. Arsenal set a new record in their first game of the 2002–03 season, winning their 14th league game in a row. They also broke records for away matches without defeat. However, Arsenal lost to Everton in October 2002, starting a run of four games without a win. They had an eight-point lead over Manchester United by March 2003, but United caught up in the final weeks. Arsenal won the FA Cup again, beating Southampton 1–0.

Before the next season, Wenger met with his players to discuss why they lost the league. He believed the team had the right mix of skill and intelligence. Arsenal did not buy many new players because of the money needed for their new stadium project. Their only major signing was Jens Lehmann, who replaced David Seaman as goalkeeper. Wenger kept his best players, even with interest from Chelsea's new owner Roman Abramovich. Six games into the league season, Arsenal were involved in a fight against Manchester United. Several players were fined, and Wenger apologized. The team played exciting football. Wenger led his side to win the league without a single defeat. This amazing achievement had only been done once before, 115 years earlier.

Arsenal's run of 49 league games unbeaten ended with a 2–0 loss at Manchester United on 24 October 2004. The team had another strong league season in 2004–05, but finished second to Chelsea. Arsenal won the FA Cup again, beating Manchester United on penalties in the final. Wenger sold Vieira to Juventus in July 2005, as he felt keeping Cesc Fàbregas would be better for the club's future. The 2005–06 season was Arsenal's last at Highbury. The team finished fourth in the Premier League, outside the top two for the first time under Wenger. In the Champions League, Wenger's young defense reached the final. They beat Real Madrid, Juventus, and Villarreal without giving up any goals in the knockout stages. In the final against Barcelona in May 2006, Arsenal took an early lead but lost 2–1.

Stadium Move and Rebuilding Years

In summer 2006, Wenger oversaw Arsenal's move to the Emirates Stadium. He said the move was "vital" for the club's money future and would help attract top players. But moving to the new stadium caused problems in the short term. The club focused on paying for the stadium over buying new players. Wenger sold experienced players like Campbell and Pires. He brought in young players like Theo Walcott and Alex Song. His young team played in the League Cup final in February 2007. They were the youngest team to play in a major English cup final, with an average age of 21. They lost to Chelsea 2–1. Arsenal finished fourth in the 2006–07 league season.

Wenger in training with Arsenal in 2009

In April 2007, David Dein left Arsenal. Wenger was sad about this and sought assurances about his own future. The uncertainty led to captain Thierry Henry leaving Arsenal in June 2007. In September 2007, Wenger signed a new three-year contract. He said he was committed to "the club of my life." Arsenal played well without Henry in the 2007–08 season. They built a five-point lead over Manchester United. But a serious injury to striker Eduardo in February 2008 affected Arsenal's season. Wenger was very angry about the tackle. Arsenal's form suffered, and they finished third.

Arsenal had a difficult start to Wenger's twelfth season. They finished fourth in the league and reached the Champions League and FA Cup semi-finals. But it was a fourth season without a trophy. Some Arsenal fans criticized Wenger. Arsenal finished third in the league in 2009–10. Wenger reached a milestone in October 2009, becoming Arsenal's longest-serving manager.

In August 2010, Wenger signed another three-year contract. His team was aiming for four trophies in 2010–11. But they lost to Birmingham City in the 2011 Football League Cup Final. This was followed by a poor run in the Premier League, dropping them to fourth place. Arsenal also exited the FA Cup and Champions League.

Trophy Return and Farewell

Wenger's preparations for the 2011–12 season were difficult. Key players like Cesc Fàbregas, Gaël Clichy, and Samir Nasri left the club. Injuries and suspensions meant Wenger had a weak team against Manchester United in August 2011. Arsenal lost 8–2, their worst defeat in 115 years. Wenger signed several experienced players in the last days of the transfer window, including Yossi Benayoun, Mikel Arteta, and Per Mertesacker. By October, Arsenal had their worst start to a season in 58 years. However, the team improved. Captain Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Chelsea 5–3. Despite no trophies, Wenger guided Arsenal to third place, qualifying for the Champions League for the 15th time in a row. Van Persie scored 37 goals. However, he was unhappy with Arsenal's transfer policy and left to join Manchester United in August 2012. Arsenal signed strikers Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski.

Wenger in 2016

The 2012–13 season was Wenger's first without Pat Rice, who retired. Arsenal struggled for consistency. They were knocked out of the League Cup by Bradford City, a team from three divisions below them. Further cup defeats ended Arsenal's trophy chances for an eighth season in a row. Arsenal's chances of finishing in the top four looked slim by March. But Wenger made changes, and his team went on a strong run. They finished fourth, beating Tottenham for a second season in a row. Wenger called it a "relief."

Arsenal started the 2013–14 season with a home defeat. Fans were unhappy about the lack of new signings. But Wenger signed Mesut Özil from Real Madrid for a club record £42.5 million. Wenger personally convinced Özil to join. Arsenal's form improved, and they were first by New Year. However, poor performances in big games hurt their title chances. A 6–0 loss to Chelsea was Wenger's 1,000th match in charge. Arsenal secured fourth place. Wenger guided his team to FA Cup success, coming back from two goals down to beat Hull City in the final. This was Arsenal's first trophy in nine years. Wenger signed another three-year contract. He strengthened the squad by signing Alexis Sánchez in July 2014. Wenger won his sixth FA Cup in May 2015, making him one of the most successful managers in the competition's history. Arsenal finished third in the league and then runners-up in 2015–16.

Wenger in his final home match as manager of Arsenal in 2018

In mid-2016, Wenger signed Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi. Arsenal started the 2016–17 season well. But back-to-back defeats in December hurt their league chances. Further losses meant they were out of the title race and Champions League qualification was threatened. On 30 April, Arsenal lost to Tottenham, meaning Tottenham finished above them in the league for the first time since 1995. The following month, Arsenal failed to finish in the top four for the first time since 1997. On 27 May, Wenger became the most successful manager in FA Cup history. Arsenal beat Chelsea 2–1 in the final, winning the competition for the 13th time. Four days later, Wenger signed a contract extension until 2019.

In mid-2017, Wenger signed Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolašinac. On 6 August, Wenger won his 7th FA Community Shield. However, in the 2017–18 FA Cup, Arsenal lost early. They were also outside the top four in the Premier League. Player Alexis Sánchez wanted to leave. Wenger allowed him to move to Manchester United in January 2018, with Arsenal receiving Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Later that month, he signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. But these new players did not improve the team's overall performance. On 20 April, Wenger announced he would step down as Arsenal manager at the end of the 2017–18 season. His final home game was a 5–0 win against Burnley on 6 May. He received a standing ovation and was given a gold replica of the "Invincibles" Premier League trophy. He officially ended his time with a 1–0 away win against Huddersfield Town. Wenger later said he wanted to stay until his contract ended, but the club decided it was better for him to leave. He described his exit as "very hard" and "very brutal."

Career After Management

From November 2019, Wenger became FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development. In this role, he helps grow and develop football worldwide. He is also part of FIFA's Football and Technical Advisory Panels, which review rule changes. Wenger also chairs FIFA's executive team that analyzes official FIFA tournaments. He called this FIFA role "a new challenge." In 2019, Wenger also invested in a sports technology company called Playermaker.

Approach and Philosophy

Tactics and Preparation

Wenger was inspired by the "Total Football" style developed by Rinus Michels at Ajax in the 1970s. He wanted his teams to play "perfect football." At Monaco, he often used a 4–4–2 formation. Wenger believes in trusting his players to perform and learn from their mistakes. He encourages players to use their intuition and makes observations rather than giving strict orders.

When Wenger joined Arsenal, he wanted to see "real, modern football." This meant compact lines, quick, coordinated movements, and good technique. He usually focused on his team's strengths. In his second season at Arsenal, he used the 4–4–2 formation. He focused on strengthening the attacking players by signing wingers and partnering Patrick Vieira with Emmanuel Petit. His teams between 2001 and 2004 were very strong on the left side of the field.

By the 2005–06 season, many English clubs were using the 4–5–1 system. Wenger, who had said he would never use a defensive system, later adopted it for Champions League matches. This helped Arsenal reach the final. With Cesc Fàbregas becoming a key player, Wenger changed their style from counter-attacking to more possession-based football. In later years, he used formations like 4–3–3 and 4–2–3–1. During the second half of the 2016–17 Premier League season, Wenger switched to a 3–4–3 formation.

Wenger was able to make his exciting vision of football a reality, especially at Arsenal. His team's 5–1 win against Portsmouth in 2004 was compared to the great Ajax teams of the 1970s. Wenger's style was sometimes criticized for being too predictable. However, he also built teams that could play disciplined football, like in the 2005 FA Cup Final.

Wenger in 2015

Wenger led training sessions but let his coaching staff work directly with the players. He divided the squad into groups and watched their drills. A typical training session lasted 90 minutes and included coordination, positional play, and small games. Wenger focused on the mental and tactical approach the day before a match.

Wenger believed a healthy diet was very important. He was influenced by his time in Japan, where people eat a lot of boiled vegetables, fish, and rice with no fat or sugar. At Arsenal, he brought in dieticians to teach players about healthy eating. He also used an osteopath to help players' bodies each month. Exercises to strengthen muscles were introduced. Wenger also made players stretch before and after matches. These new methods helped his players stay healthy and perform better in the second half of seasons.

In later years, some criticized Wenger's training because of his squad's many injuries. From 2004–05 to 2014–15, Arsenal players missed many days due to injury. In 2014, Wenger hired fitness coach Shad Forsythe to help. A year later, Arsenal's average injury length dropped by over 25%.

Player Recruitment and Development

Wenger's recruitment policy focused on developing young players and finding talent from other countries. He used a network of scouts and his own contacts to find talented footballers. Wenger was also influenced by data. For example, he signed Mathieu Flamini in 2004 after looking at statistics to find a player to support Patrick Vieira. He also used psychological tests to understand young players' mental states. Wenger was proud of helping young talent grow. He said, "I believe one of the best things about managing people is that we can influence lives in a positive way."

In his early managing years, Wenger saw the potential of football in Africa. He signed Liberian George Weah, who later became the first African to be named FIFA World Player of the Year. Weah even gave his award to Wenger as a thank you. Wenger also worked with Senegalese defender Roger Mendy and Nigerian forward Victor Ikpeba. He also helped young players like Emmanuel Petit and Lilian Thuram develop. He gave Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet their first chances.

Lilian Thuram made his debut for Monaco under Wenger.

In England, Wenger used his knowledge of the European transfer market to sign players. His first purchase for Arsenal was Nicolas Anelka from Paris Saint-Germain for £500,000. Two years later, Anelka was sold to Real Madrid for £23.5 million, showing Wenger's smart business. He stayed in touch with an academy in Ivory Coast, where he found future Arsenal players Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Eboué. He also convinced players like Cesc Fàbregas and Héctor Bellerín to leave Barcelona's youth academy and join Arsenal.

When Arsenal moved to the Emirates Stadium, Wenger focused on investing in youth instead of buying expensive, experienced players. He wanted to create an "identity" for Arsenal. He felt it would be interesting to see players grow together with a love for the club. However, it became harder to sign players as efficiently as before. The youth system did not always produce as many top players as in the late 1990s. Arsenal gained a reputation for being a "feeder club" for bigger teams, as Wenger struggled to keep his best players. He called this period "very sensitive" due to the financial limits of the stadium move. Since the 2011–12 season, Wenger has started buying proven talent again. Arsenal has benefited from more money since the stadium move and new sponsorship deals. This allowed Wenger to make big signings like Mesut Özil, Alexis Sánchez, Granit Xhaka, Alexandre Lacazette, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Some people criticized Wenger's transfer policy for lacking balance and needing more defensive players. Players Wenger signed were sometimes criticized for their character. Wenger was seen as careful with money, but he denied this. He said, "I'm not scared to spend money. The job of a manager is not to spend as much money."

Relations with Others

Wenger's relationships with other football managers and officials were not always friendly. He explained that his unwillingness to trust other managers was sometimes mistaken for rudeness. He had a famous rivalry with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. This rivalry peaked in the "Pizzagate" incident in October 2004. After Manchester United ended Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten run, there was an argument in the tunnel. Wenger accused United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy of cheating. Both managers later agreed to be more respectful. In his book, Ferguson said the "Pizzagate" incident caused their relationship to break down for almost five years. By 2009, Wenger noted his rivalry with Ferguson had become "respectful."

Wenger and Mourinho during a match between their teams in 2014

Wenger also had a rivalry with Chelsea manager José Mourinho. In 2014, Mourinho called Wenger a "specialist in failure." This was after Wenger commented that Chelsea were favorites for the Premier League. Wenger said Mourinho's comments were "silly and disrespectful." In October 2014, Wenger and Mourinho had a heated argument on the touchline during a match. Wenger later apologized for his behavior.

Plaudits and Legacy

Arsenal supporters hold up cards that spell out "In Arsène we trust"

At Arsenal, Wenger had strong support from the club's board of directors. They trusted his long-term vision. His arrival changed Arsenal's football style. The team, once called "boring, boring Arsenal," became known for exciting, fluid play. Pundit Alan Hansen described the 2004 team as "quite simply the most fluid, devastating team the British Isles has seen." Wenger himself said his greatest legacy at Arsenal would be the style of play he brought. Fans often showed banners saying "Arsène knows" and "In Arsène we trust." However, over time, some fans began to protest against his management.

David Dein called Wenger the most important manager in Arsenal's history. He said Wenger "revolutionized the club" and "turned players into world-class players." Former manager Graham Taylor said Wenger's biggest contribution was showing players how to prepare and take care of themselves. Wenger was praised for his loyalty to financial fair play and managing Arsenal's debt after the stadium move. A survey in 2007 found Wenger was the only Premier League manager who made a profit on player transfers.

Bust of Wenger at the Emirates Stadium

Although Wenger made Arsenal a regular in the UEFA Champions League, he never won a continental competition. He was a Champions League and UEFA Cup runner-up with Arsenal, and a Cup Winners' Cup runner-up with Monaco. Some see this as a flaw in his career. However, many believe he is still one of football's greats. Writer Michael Calvin said Wenger "has been the best, most influential manager of the modern era."

Wenger was given France's highest honor, the Légion d'honneur, in 2002. He was also made an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003 for his services to football. In 2005, Arsenal fans held a "Wenger Day" on his 56th birthday to show their appreciation. Wenger was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006. A bronze statue of Wenger was unveiled at the Emirates Stadium in October 2007. An astronomer even named an asteroid, 33179 Arsènewenger, after him.

In May 2016, the Stade Arsène Wenger stadium was officially opened near Strasbourg, where Wenger was born. In July 2023, Arsenal unveiled an official statue of Wenger holding the "Invincible" Premier League trophy outside the Emirates Stadium.

Global Impact on Players

Wenger was one of the first managers in English football to look for talent abroad. His 1998 double-winning team was described as "a model of racial and multicultural integration." It was seen as the first truly globalized team. Wenger helped the Premier League become more global and showed the value of hiring foreign managers.

Fan holding an Arsenal shirt bearing the text "Arsène Wenger Thank You" at the match between Belgium and England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

However, the large number of foreign players at Arsenal also drew criticism. In a 2005 match, Arsenal fielded a squad with no British players for the first time. Some worried this was a bad sign for English football. But Wenger said nationality was not important. He believed it was about a player's qualities, not their passport. Others, like Trevor Brooking from the FA, defended Wenger. They said the lack of English players was more about England's limited talent pool.

Several English players, such as Ashley Cole, David Bentley, and Matthew Upson, started their careers at Arsenal under Wenger. Wenger said that building his team around British players helped ensure stability.

Personal Life

Wenger was married to former basketball player Annie Brosterhous. They have one daughter, Léa, born in 1997. Wenger and Brosterhous later separated in 2015. Wenger lives in Totteridge, London. He spends most of his free time studying football matches. He once said he "watches games on most days." He is also interested in politics. Outside of managing, he worked as a football expert for French television from 2004 to 2014, and for beIN Sports since 2016. Wenger was also a global ambassador for FIFA World Cup sponsor Castrol. He conducted training camps for youth teams worldwide as part of this role.

He wrote a book about football management for the Japanese market called Shōsha no Esupuri (The Spirit of Conquest), published in 1997. The book shares his management ideas and values.

Wenger is a Roman Catholic. He credits his religious upbringing in Alsace for his values. He grew up speaking French and German. He studied English in Cambridge and also learned Italian and Spanish to help his career. He also has some knowledge of Japanese.

On 13 October 2020, Wenger's second book, My Life in Red & White: My Autobiography, was published.

Career Statistics

Playing Statistics

Managerial Statistics

Honours and Awards

Player Achievements

Mutzig

• Coupe d'Alsace: 1971

Vauban

• Coupe d'Alsace: 1977
• Division d'Honneur Alsace: 1977

RC Strasbourg

• Division 1: 1978–79
• Coupe d'Alsace: 1980

Manager Achievements

The Premier League commissioned a unique gold trophy to commemorate Arsenal's achievement of winning the 2003–04 league unbeaten. Wenger was given the trophy as a parting gift from the club after his last home game as manager on 6 May 2018.

Monaco

• Division 1: 1987–88
• Coupe de France: 1990–91

Nagoya Grampus

• Emperor's Cup: 1995
• Japanese Super Cup: 1996

Arsenal

• Premier League: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04
• FA Cup: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17
• FA Charity/Community Shield: 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2017

Individual Awards

• J. League Manager of the Year: 1995
• Onze d'Or Coach of The Year: 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004
• Premier League Manager of the Season: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04
• LMA Manager of the Year: 2001–02, 2003–04
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award: 2002, 2004
• London Football Awards – Outstanding Contribution to a London Club: 2015
• World Soccer Manager of the Year: 1998
• FWA Tribute Award: 2005
• English Football Hall of Fame: 2006
• France Football Manager of the Year: 2008
• IFFHS World Coach of the Decade: 2001–2010
• Facebook FA Premier League Manager of the Year: 2014–15
• Premier League Manager of the Month: March 1998, April 1998, October 2000, April 2002, September 2002, August 2003, February 2004, August 2004, September 2007, December 2007, February 2011, February 2012, September 2013, March 2015, October 2015
• France Football 32nd Greatest Manager of All Time: 2019
• World Soccer 36th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2013
• Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: 2019
• Premier League Hall of Fame: 2023

Orders and Honors

• Knights of the Legion of Honour: 2002
• Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire: 2003
• Freedom of Islington: 2004
• Knight Grand Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption: 2018

See Also

In Spanish: Arsène Wenger para niños

• List of English football championship winning managers
• List of FA Cup winning managers
• List of longest managerial reigns in association football
• List of Arsenal F.C. managers