Who will be Arsene Wenger’s successor by Lance
For most Arsenal fans, the news on Friday of Arsene Wenger leaving the club in the summer after nearly 22 years in charge as manager came as a big surprise even to those who had been calling for his sack.
Now that Le Professor has taken the iniatiative to announce his departure, the next question for the fans, will be who replaces the Arsenal legend.
From articles on numerous Arsenal fan sites and the media, a number of names keep popping up as the preferred choice of the supporters.
Among the names are Carlo Ancelloti, Maximiliano Allegri, Antonio Conte, Leonardo Jardim, Diego Simeone, Thomas Tuchel, Luis Enrique and Brendan Rodgers.
Perhaps with the exception of Rodgers, most Arsenal fans will welcome any of the other seven managers as Wenger’s replacement.
Though the decision on who to replace Wenger rests with owner Stan Kroenke and the board, there is nothing wrong for the fans to make their preference known through their contributions and suggestions.
To make it easier, therefore, for the fans, I have taken the time to do a little research on each of the managers listed above to enable the supporters to make an informed choice.
1). Brendan Rodgers:- Aged 45, he has managed at Watford, Reading, Swansea, Liverpool and is currently at Celtic.
Honours: Scottish Premiership 2016/17; Scottish Cup, 2016/17; Scottish League Cup, 2016/17; LMA Manager of the Year 2013/14; Scotland Manager of the Year 2016/17.
2). Thomas Tuchel:- Born 44 years ago, Tuchel has managed at Augsburg, Mainz and Borussia Dortmund.
Honours: DFB-Pokal Cup 2016/17.
Tuchel is currently out of work but media reports say that he has signed a deal to manager PSG next season. If the reports are true, that means he is not available.
3). Antonio Conte:- Currently the manager of Chelsea FC, Conte, 48, has also managed at Atalanta, Bari and Juventus. He also managed the Italian national team previously.
Honours:- Series A title 2011/12; 2012/13 and 2013/14; Super Coppa Italia 2012 and 2013; EPL title with Chelsea 2016/17; LMA Manager of the Year 2016/17 and Best FIFA Men’s Coach (2nd Place) 2017.
4). Leonardo Jardim:- Aged 44, Jardim has managed at Braga, Sporting CP, and Olympiacos before joining Monaco.
Honours:- Super League Greece 2012/13; Greek FA Cup 2012/13 and Ligue 1 with Monaco 2016/17.
The best FIFA Men’s Coach (3rd Place) 2017.
5). Diego Simeone:- Born in 1970, Simeone has coached Racing Club, River Plate and Estudiantes, all in his native Argentina and Catania, Italy. He is currently the manager of Atletico Madrid.
Honours:- 2006 Argentine Primera Division 1Torneo Apertura with River Plate; 2008 Argentine Primera Division 1 Torno Clausura; La Liga title with Atletico Madrid 2013/14; Copa del Rey 2012/13; Super Copa de Espana 2014; UEFA Europa Cup 2011/12 and UEFA Super Cup 2012; UEFA Champions League Runner up 2013/14 and 2015/16; La Liga Coach of the Year 2012/13, 2013/14; IFFHS World Best Coach 2016 and European Coach of the Season 2011/12.
6). Maximiliano Allegri:- The current Juventus manager has previously managed at Cagliari and AC Milan.
Honours:- Aged 51, Allegri has won the Serie A title with Juve in 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17. He also won the Series A with Milan in 2010/11.
Other titles won by Allegri are Super Coppa Italia 2011 and 2015; Coppa Italia 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17.
Allegri won Serie A Coach of the Year 2011, 2015 and 2016;
IFFHS World Best Club Coach (3rd Place) 2015 and 2016
IFFHS World Best Club Coach (2nd Place) 2017.
The best FIFA Men’s Coach (3rd Place) 2017.
7). Carlo Ancelloti:- Fifty-eight year old Ancelloti has managed at AC Milan, PSG, Juventus, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Honours:- UEFA Intertoto Cup with Juve 1999; Series A 2003/4 with Milan; Coppa Italia 2002/3; Super Coppa Italia 2004; UEFA Champions League 2002/3, 2006/7, 2013/14; UEFA Super Cup 2003 and 2007. Others are FIFA Club World Cup 2007; EPL 2009/10, FA Cup 2009/10, FA Community Shield 2009; Ligue 1 2012/13; Copa del Rey 2013/14; UEFA Super Cup 2014; FIFA Club World Cup 2014; Bundesliga 2016/17, DFL Super Cup 2016, 2017. Individual honours won are Series A Coach of the Year 200, 2004; Ligue 1 Manager of the Year 2012/2013; IFFHS World Best Coach 2007 and 2014; European Coach of the Year 2003; FIFA World Coach of the Year (Runner up) 2014; Enzo Bearzot Award 2014.
Ancelloti is currently out of work and therefore available.
8). Luis Enrique:- Enrique, who will be 48 in May, has managed Roma, Celta Vigo and Barcelona.
Honours:- La Liga 2014/15, 2015/16; Copa del Rey 2014/15, 2025/16; Super Copa de Espana 2016; UEFA Champions League 2014/15, UEFA Super Cup 2015 and FIFA Club World Cup 2015.
Individual honours include La Liga Coach of the Year 2015, FIFA World Coach of the Year 2015, IFFHS World Best Club Coach 2015, World Soccer Magazine Manager of the Year 2015, European Coach of the Year (Alf Ramsey Award) 2015 and European Coach of the Season 2014/15.
Enrique is currently on sabbatical and plans to return to football management in the summer.
From the information provided above, it is clear Arsenal is spoiled for choice and Wenger’s departure could not have come at a better time when some of these world class managers are available. Football is about winning trophies and I think it is clear who should replace Wenger. But let me not presume to choose for you wonderful and knowledgeable Gooners. So over to you, make your choice.
By Lance.