CHECK OUT THE FIVE CONTENDERS TO SUCCEED WENGER
LONDON: Arsene Wenger’s decision to finally step aside as Arsenal manager after 22 years in charge has sparked fevered speculation over who the Gunners will turn to next to succeed the Frenchman.
Arsenal are struggling to qualify for next season’s Champions League with victory in the Europa League their only realistic route back into Europe’s premier club competition.
However, with one of the biggest budgets in world football and a squad boasting the talents of Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubammeyang, the Arsenal job remains highly sought aftter.
AFP Sports looks at five contenderrs to take over at the Emirates:
Patrick Vieira (New York City) )
THE inspirational captain of Arsenaal’s “Invincibles” that went an entire leaggue season unbeaten in 2003-04, Vieira iss a symbol of the glory years under Wenger.
Vieira won three league titles and three FA Cups during his playing days at Arsenal but has taken his first steps in management with another of his former clubs, Manchester City.
The Frenchman took charge of
City’s elite development squad for 18 months before joining New York City, part of a network of clubs around the world owned by the City Football Group.
He led NYCFC to the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs in each of his twwo full seasons in charge but lost out in thet Eastern Conference semi-finals on booth occasions.
While popular with the fans, Vieira’s lack of top-level managerial experience would pose a huge risk in Arsenal’s attempts to re-establish themselves as a Premier League contender.
■ Brendan Rodgers (Celtic)
RODGERS has restored his reputatiion in just under two years at Celtic with the Glaasgow giants on the brink of sweeping a trebble of domestic trophies under the Northern Irishman for a second consecutive seaason.
The 45-year-old’s three-and-a-half year spell at Liverpool ended on a sour note in OctoberO 2015 but he came as close as anyone to ending their 28-year wait for a Premier League title in 2013-14.
Celtic’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond said on Friday he would not stand in RRodgers’ way. “I don’t think you can put handcuffs on anybody if they want to go to a club asa good as Arsenal,” he said. “It will be
Brendan’s decision and Brendan’s decision only.”
■ Joachim Loew (Germany)
A WORLD Cup winner, Loew has resisted the temptation to swap international footbaall for the rigours of day-to-day club management and is under contract with the GGerman Federation until 20020.
Despite being one of the favourites for the job with the bookies, Loew’s chances are harrmed by the fact he will leaad Germany at the World CupC this summer. Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis conceded the club are likely to favour a quick appointment with an earlye end to the transfer window in August leaving just three weeeks between the World Cup finaal in Moscow on July 15 and thee closing of the window for Preemier League clubs on Augusst 9. ■ Carlo Ancelotti (unattached) ANCELOTTIA has more ex xperience of managing to op European clubs than alla the other pretenders put together and is believed to be keen on a re eturn to London after a two o-year spell as Chelsea boss betweenb 2009 and 2011. The Ita alian has three Champions League titles s to his name as a coach and has won th he league in Italy, France, Germany and En ngland.
However, he was w sacked by Bayern Munich in Septe ember and after Wenger, Arsenal could be b tempted to look for a younger coach than the 58-year-old.
■ Luis Enrique (unattached)
A TREBLE winner in his first season in charge of Barcelona in 2014-15, Enrique has enjoyed a season off after three gruelling campaigns at the Nou Camp.
Those three seasons delivered two league titles and three Spanish King’s Cup wins on top of the Champions League in 2015.
Enrique is also interested in a move to the Premier League and would fit Gazidis’s claim that Arsenal want a successor to follow Wenger’s attacking style of play. — AFP