The outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is currently being inundated with job offers after finally closing the door on his career with the Gunners, and yesterday he told the media about some previous offers that he had refused while he was still the Arsenal boss. “When we built the [Emirates] stadium the banks asked me to commit for five years,” Wenger explained.
“The first time [Real Madrid called] it was inside the five years and I thought no I could not do that, that would betray my club.
“Real Madrid I think I turned down two or three times you know. It’s one of the teams I loved when I was a kid.
“I just felt that it was a very sensitive period for Arsenal.
“You are always tempted to go to Real Madrid because they offered me the chance to take control of the whole club.
“At the end of the day, I said no once, twice. I turned so many clubs down you could believe it, but I was happy where I was.”
Le Prof was also headhunted to become the England manager on a few occasions, but he revealed that he turned that job down for completely different reasons. “I turned them down two or three times,” Wenger said.
“But at that time the daily involvement for me was important.
“I have said many times that it should be an English guy who takes the England national team.
“It’s a big football country they have enough quality managers and I thought maybe it’s not right for me to do that.”
It certainly would have seemed strange to see Wenger in charge of England, but I think he would be much more likely to accept the top job for France one day. They would certainly have more chance of winning things, don’t you think?
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He must have been regretting his rejections, but I think he would get another big opportunity again, because he is renowned for his work at Arsenal
I wish the best for him, unfortunately his resignation was too late. Now Emery must decide what to do with Wenger’s players, like what Klopp did when he inherited Rodgers’ players
The reason a lot of us became Arsenal fans is because of Wenger and our style of play. Yes we have declined in the past few years and it was time for Wenger to go but we ought to be careful with this guy. PSG had all the money and I wasn’t impressed with them in champions league let’s all be cautious in our assessment.
Ot topic:
I’m watching premier league world that is following vieras career from Caen onwards.
I hope Emery is watching!
Makes me dribble with excitement this team!
The first bit of history Unai needs is some popcorn and the 49 unbeaten dvd 🙂
Sure he’d say in the modern day game okay give me 500m budget and I’ll see what I can do.
Seriously though Nzonzi anyone? I think it would be amazing if we could get him.
I was reading today about the amount of players that have left recently it’s so easy to forget.
Coquelin, Gabriel, walcott, ox, sanchez, gibbs, Santi, giroud……
And on perez I’m glad Unai wants him back with some tutoring and support he’s an arsenal type player.
Steven Nzonzi would provide much needed size 6’5″, strength and power as a DM. He has the added advantage of previous experience in EPL, although he is 29.
Please no more articles about our ex-employees. We need to look forward, not back to the past and past managers. How is Herbert Chapman today anyway! Still dead, presumably!
Wow, what a sad individual you are.
On the contrary. I am extremely happy and looking forward to the new season with our new ambitious and motivating manager. Seems to me you are the one who is sad. Sad that Wenger is finally gone and also sad that the overwhelming majority of Gooners are happy, as I am, about that. My comment about Chapman was just rhetoric, penned to remind the article writer that we need to move forward now to the future, rather than wonder about those who were here before. There is much to look forward to. For MOST of us. Do you ?
Not sure you even understand the meaning of the word rhetoric, the statement is ridiculous and frankly disrespectful. I personally have no issue with Wenger going and also look forward to the future.
after months of non-stop Wenger articles…. I agree. Would be happy never to see his name in a headline again. Dont care about his “almost signed” or “almost went to”.
I know. It’s so annoying hearing talk of how close he was to signing Messi, Rolando etc. All it does is anger arsenal fans even more.
Sure… In the days of The Invincibles he was wanted by Real Madrid. I reckon the supposed job offers now are more like West Ham, or other teams with a budget and no expectations to win anything. If I was pushing 70 and as rich as Wenger I’d just enjoy my retirement, get pissed a lot, have lots of holidays, etc. I hope he finds something to do that he enjoys.
In the mean time, I heard that we’re in for Jean Michel Seri for £35m and that Besiktas want Danny Wellbeck. Happy days! Can’t wait to see Emery doing his thing. Really looking forward to next season.
Apart from Jean Seri, apparently Arsenal are also interested in Lorenzo Pellegrini, according to Sky Sports
Mercí Wenger but he’s now history! Thank God for that. Three EPL Champions in 22 years wasn’t good enough for a club which in good parts of those years boasted the best players in the Premiership! Not good enough. Mercí and au revoir Wenger!
Good luck Arsène. Now let’s move on.Emry is somehow like a young Wenger hopfully he can replicat the same success Arsène had in his early days.
I like him gotta say I just took to him and wish him all the best hope he gets the support he needs and the players step up for him!
@darlingbudsofarse.
Bit harsh as we know the 2nd half of his tenure we didn’t have the best half and the first half we were competing against saf and the MU team who also as we know we’re incredible.
If only Wenger bought a good badass DM.. ??? the ending would probably have been different
Unbelievably, Wenger alone in all the football world, failed to realise that we even needed a badass DM. This flat refusal to face reality was the root of his ultimate failure and why the fans turned on him so vengefully but correctly.
omg-some of you so called supporters have been spoilt!!-istill enjoyed the seasons gunners went 17 years without a sniff of any trophies!!-mummy should have told you’ you cant win all the time’-look at the great sides of the past-man u .are struggling in spite of 3 recent managers and a 500 million spent-wake up and smell the roses!!!
Ki Gooners,
Great to hear from you fellow Gooners.
What makes me laugh Jon is your comment about having no more articles about our ex employees.
Have a look back at the comments you and others keep making about Arsene Wenger in every article that appears!
Then as soon as a positive article turns up, it’s deemed as time we moved on.
If we are to move on, then let’s all appreciate the legacy of Wenger, so admirably described by our new manager and look forward to his time in the hot seat.
I suggest that I and thousands like me want to move on, but it’s only the dillusional few who want to keep looking backwards.
Jon Fox, Can’t you get out of Wenger’s shell? We are discussing the future but somehow you have to chip in a hate phrase for Wenger. Are you obsessed with him? Now to the present and future. What should Unai do to win trophies and get us back to the top four?
Sorry, that should be acknowledging Gooners comments
BS