Arsene turned down world
He said ‘non’ to France, Barca and Real Madrid
ARSENE WENGER’S critics may scoff but he really did ‘turn down the world’ to stay at Arsenal.
As the Frenchman reaches the final stage of his career as a manager he could start to ponder whether his loyalty was misplaced.
A Europa League victory – bringing Champions League qualification – could yet prove to be a fitting farewell for the 68-year-old boss.
But after he does eventually step away from management, Wenger will surely wonder what his alreadyimpressive CV would have looked like if he had accepted one of the array of juicy offers that came his way during his 22 years with the Gunners.
At the peak of his powers Wenger was, quite simply, the most wanted manager in the world.
After arriving as ‘Arsene Who?’ on October 1, 1996, he bagged two League and FA Cup doubles by 2002.
Then there was his ‘Invincibles’ who went through the entire 2003-4 season unbeaten.
His desire to see his team play The Beautiful Game, coupled with his intelligent, calm and often witty approach off the pitch – with plenty of passion chucked in when needed – merely added to his huge appeal.
A close associate told Starsport how Wenger amazingly turned down Real Madrid FIVE times and Barcelona on SIX occasions.
He confirmed prior to facing Paris St-Germain in the Champions League in 2016 how he had also rejected numerous approaches from the French giants “because I love where I am”.
And the French national team – who, like PSG, are still keen on appointing Wenger now he has announced he is leaving Arsenal – asked him to coach his homeland every time the job became available.
Despite his fierce national pride, he always said ‘Non’.
Only last summer former chairman Martin Edwards revealed Manchester United had tried to land Wenger when they thought Sir Alex Ferguson was retiring in 2001.
“Our first choice was Arsene,” Edwards wrote in his autobiography ‘Red Glory’. “We made our approach and Wenger did show a little bit of interest, enough to want to meet chief executive Peter Kenyon and me at his house in London to listen to what we had to say.
“I think Wenger felt loyalty to vice-chairman David Dein. He was very close to David and that was the reason he gave us in the end for turning down United.”
After Roy Hodgson’s departure as England boss in the summer of 2016, the FA wanted Wenger too. Again he resisted the overtures.
Respect
So it was perhaps no surprise that Wenger finally cracked in February when quizzed yet again about his future in the wake of an embarrassing 3-0 defeat by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final and in the face of growing anger among fans.
“I am amazed that I have to answer these questions,” he raged.
“I am here for 21 years and turned down the whole world to respect my contract.”
Of course, the offers to Wenger have no doubt tailed off in line with Arsenal’s league position, with no league title now for 14 years.
But there has long been frustration from Wenger at
the lack of understanding of the handicaps he was forced to work under.
“Arsene did not want to sell Nicolas Anelka in 2009 but the money was needed to pay for the new training ground,” said his friend.
“Then there were the huge financial restraints he had to work under while the The Emirates was being built.
“And he’s taken all the criticism despite staying so loyal to the club. Every top club in the world has tried to employ him, not least Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“He’s taken so much flak, including from Thierry Henry. But don’t forget it was Henry who missed those two chances against Barcelona, one when he was clean through and his legs went to jelly, in the Champions League Final in 2006.
“Then there is the football Arsene has always demanded his team play.
“He goes out to win every game, sends out his team to entertain and never wants to settle for a boring draw.
“How many fans would be turning up to watch Arsenal if George Graham was still manager?”
The world may not be at his door like they used to be.
But Wenger, if he does go to PSG, will still believe he can shoot for the stars.