TIONARY or football’s great entertainer
ich yielded so much rought so much joy to the red and white
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said to me, ‘I want ay thinking what they s entertaining’. till trying to get his at now, pass the ball he football the way it
ough always said, ‘On t in the air’. hes anywhere else – ure he will – it will bout entertainment, , entertainment.” that in many ways ibute to Wenger’s
s haul of 10 major mprising three titles even FA Cups, could the hot-seat amid a nrest and half-empty Emirates. MANCHESTER CITY BOSS PEP GUARDIOLA
He is a huge personality. The Premier League is the Premier League because of what he has done and his vision. I wish him all the best for the future. BURNLEY BOSS SEAN DYCHE He is a legend of the game – the work that he’s done will be remembered for a long, long time. NEWCASTLE BOSS RAFA BENITEZ To do things in the way that he has done and win the way he was winning, for so many years – we are talking about one of the best managers in football history. FORMER ARSENAL STRIKER PAUL MERSON
They should drop The Emirates bit – they don’t need the money – and name it the Arsene Wenger Stadium. That’s his stadium. He built that. He made that stadium. Even if they just called it The Emirates Arsene Wenger Stadium. He deserves to be on that. AT THE DOUBLE: Wenger holds both trophies in 2002 ARSENAL DEFENDER PER MERTESACKER
He’s always managed to get the team around himself to be successful. The memories of winning titles with him and bringing joy to so many people – something he has done for years – is a heck of an achievement. SOUTHAMPTON BOSS MARK HUGHES
He came here with a lot of different ideas, different views on how the game should be played, he moved the goalposts for everyone in the game, he came in and had success and everyone else had to catch up. PREMIER LEAGUE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN RICHARD SCUDAMORE It is hard to encapsulate the enormity of Arsene Wenger’s contribution to Arsenal Football Club, the Premier League and football generally over these past 22 seasons. All of Arsene’s teams have been a joy to watch. ARSENAL shareholder Alisher Usmanov has tipped his hat to Arsene Wenger and bid him a fond farewell.
The Russian tycoon, who despite owning a 30 per cent stake in the club is not on the Gunners board, has always been a massive fan of the Frenchman.
And as Wenger’s reign of more than two decades reaches its conclusion, Usmanov, worth around £10billion, has issued a heartfelt personal tribute to the Arsenal legend.
He said: “My long-held admiration for Arsene Wenger is no secret – he revolutionised our historic club. “And as a man he embodied everything that defines Arsenal as an institution – integrity, class and tradition. “Undoubtedly he is one of the greatest European coaches of all time.
“Arsene Wenger’s legacy will live on far into the future.
“This is a sad day for Arsenal Football Club but I wish him all the best.”
Even during the less successful second half of Wenger’s time in the hot-seat, Usmanov never turned on the manager.
Instead he accused the club’s American owner Stan Kroenke of not spending enough money in the transfer market to help Wenger compete against the loaded Manchester clubs and Chelsea.
As the search for a replacement begins, Usmanov, 64, said: “My wish is that the successor can follow in his footsteps
– and win on the field.” CHELSEA boss Antonio Conte had some kind words for Arsene Wenger, a manager he believes helped change the face of English football.
The Italian claims Wenger’s unbeaten Invincibles are an almost impossible act to follow.
Conte achieved a similar feat when manager of Juventus, so he knows the pitfalls and just what is needed.
He said: “Can it be repeated? Yes, but it would be very difficult now. I did it with Juventus in my first season.
“But to win a title without losing, it’s not simple.
“I think it’s an incredible achievement.
“We must show great respect. We must pay a tribute because we are talking about a really important manager, one of the best managers in the world.”