When Arsene Wenger announced his decision to leave Arsenal back in April, many wondered whether the 68-year-old Frenchman would have it in him to start over as a manager somewhere else. He has enjoyed an immensely successful 22-year stint in North London, but some believed he might step into a more administrative role at his next stop if he decided against retirement altogether.
However, Wenger has since publicly insisted that he would like to continue his managerial career elsewhere. Considering he’s been linked with big jobs like Paris St. Germain and the French national team, it makes sense that he would still have interest in coaching after his time with the Gunners is up.
Most betting sites list his native France as Wenger’s most likely destination. Betway, a safe choice for online soccer betting, has PSG listed as the current favorites, though there is an additional chance Wenger goes back to Japan, where he coached immediately prior to joining Arsenal in 1996.
Based on what he told the media on Tuesday, it sounds as though even Wenger himself did not imagine he would be this hot a commodity on the managerial market. Wenger dodged questions regarding who he thinks should replace him at the Emirates, but he did say that the club would do well to find his successor before next month’s World Cup gets underway.
Wenger did not specify which teams have offered him a job, but when asked whether he’s received any offers, he replied, “Yes. More than I expected. I want to work well until the last day of my contract. And then, after, I will rest a little bit and think about where I go from there. What is sure, I will be active. My brain demands work and is active. And I have huge experience in management and the subtlety of people management. So overall, I will work. What I will do, I don’t know yet.”
While Wenger is fully focused on continuing his managerial career, he did seem to insist that his next stop is likely to come somewhere other than in England. When asked whether he would coach another Premier League outfit, he said, “At the moment that is difficult for me. I don’t envisage that at the moment.”
Arsenal’s brass has reportedly started the process of interviewing potential candidates to replace Wenger. While no word on who those candidates may be has emerged yet, there is rampant speculation that former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique and Juventus manager Max Allegri are among the favorites.
Wenger has said that he has zero role in the decision-making progress regarding his replacement. He refused to comment on whether Arsenal need an experienced manager like Enrique to fill his soon-to-be vacated post. Of the potential candidates, he said, “All these guys are very competent and they are all good names and choices. Anyway, I will be like every Arsenal fan, I will wait until they’ve made a decision and after support the guy to do well. It’s better I stay neutral. If the club wants my advice I will give it to them.”
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