Wilshere favourite to take on Argyle job
months at Home Park – is an obvious attraction, as is the lure of a massive football club that has fallen on hard times languishing in Germany’s second tier. Not that it is of any comfort to the Green Army.
In a statement confirming his appointment at the Veltins Arena, Muslic said: “First of all, my thanks go to Plymouth Argyle. They made it possible for me to begin talks with FC Schalke 04.
“I thank all Schalke officials for their trust. From the very first contact, we had a very open and honest exchange. With Frank Baumann, Youri Mulder, Ben Manga, and Matthias Tillmann, we discussed in detail what Schalke is looking for and how I can contribute. We want to implement this plan together and get to work with great conviction and passion.”
The task facing Argyle is finding a successor to Muslic. That is well underway with former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere the odds-on favourite with leading bookmakers.
The 33-year-old, who was Arsenal’s youngest ever league debutant at the age of 16 years and 256 days, ended the season as caretaker manager of Norwich City, stepping up from his role as first team coach. However, he left Carrow Road a week ago to pursue his own career as a head coach.
Wilshere retired from football at the age of 30 after an injury-ravaged career which never really hit the heights it promised as a prodigious teenager. He played over 250 games for Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers, Bournemouth and West Ham United before ending his career with Aarhus in Denmark.
He was announced as the head coach of Arsenal’s Under-18 side in July 2022, guiding the young Gunners to the final of the FA Youth Cup, where they were beaten by West Ham. He left the Emirates to join Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorop in October 2024.
Wilshere is as short as 1/2 with the bookies, who also have former Huddersfield boss David Wagner and exBolton Wanderers chief Ian Evatt as second favourites. Adin Osmanbasic, Muslic’s assistant at Home Park is at 6/1.