Arsene Wenger made several very heart felt and incredibly self-aware revelations during a multifarious interview with French outlet RTL. Today’s news might be greeted as a validation for the #WengerOut crowd of Arsenal FC supporters who were so loud during the past couple of seasons.
Before stepping down, and admittedly not completely by choice, the very well accomplished former Arsenal manager was a subject of backlash from much of the Gunners fan base. While the Frenchman won a lot of trophies during his career with the north London side, many believed that he hung on to the position far too long.
This his answer, when he was asked what the biggest mistake of his career was, will a strike chord with the Arsenal community.
“Perhaps staying at the same club for 22 years,” Wenger responded.
“I am someone who likes to move around a lot, but I also like a challenge. I’ve been a prisoner of my own challenge at times.”
It’s quite clear to anyone paying close attention that Wenger is an individual who really makes his job his life, and that managing is and was essential to who he is.
“You wake up at 3am thinking about team selection, tactics, formation,” he said in the same interview as he discussed how his totalitarian obsession with managing and winning came at a cost to his personal life.
Wenger, who was replaced by Unai Emery in May, is still working on his transition to whatever is next for him after Arsenal.
According to Sky Sports: “He is now contemplating whether a move into international management would suit him and expects to make a decision on his future “in the next few months”.
He also revealed during the RTL interview that he turned down the chance to manage the France national team on several occasions.
“Yes, I’ve had the opportunity numerous times to be France manager. I’m not sure if it was before or after Domenech,” Wenger said.
“Maybe both… I’ve always been more interested in the day-to-day aspect of management. I find it much more stimulating.
“It is a question I’ve been asking myself, if I should become a national team manager. A national team manager takes charge of ten games per year. In a club, you take charge of 60. My drug is the next match, so…”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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