Morning:
8°c
Arsene Wenger remembers the sense of disappointment and anti-climax that greeted his arrival at Arsenal.
The fans were expecting a big name. The media had trumpeted Dutch legend and former Barcelona coach Johann Cruyff as the favourite to succeed Bruce Rioch. Then, on an autumn day in 1996, unknown Frenchman Wenger turned up after 18 months in the football backwater of Japan.
"Arsene who?", the fans asked. He tried to placate them with carefully-chosen words of consolation.
"Fame can be short term," he said. "It's the quality of your work that survives."
The quality of Wenger's work has done more than simply survive.
He has broken down barriers, set new standards and even his keenest rivals acknowledge his role in changing attitudes in the English game.
On top of that, of course, there are three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, that epic unbeaten campaign in 2003-04 and 12 seasons in the Champions League with an appearance in the 2006 final in Paris.
We must acknowledge, too, that Wenger has became the catalyst for an influx of foreign coaches.
As Arsenal's most successful and longest-serving manager, a place of honour in the club's folklore is guaranteed but where does he sit in the wider context of great managers in English football?
All such arguments must start with Sir Alex Ferguson and include Bob Paisley and Brian Clough. Serial winners at home and abroad, these men loom above all others at the high altar of football management in this country.
In my view, Wenger is just one trophy short of joining them at the top table.
That's not just any trophy, but THE trophy . . . the Champions League trophy.
Success in Europe has eluded him. He has been close but sometimes his dedication to an open, attacking style of play works against him on big European nights. He won't change, though.
He wants success in Europe. But he wants to do it his way - and that is what makes him the man he is.
"My big dream is to do something special with this team," said Wenger.
Don't bet against him doing it.
Reader views (1)
Great read thanks for that.
- N1 Gooner, islington, 02/10/2009 11:38
Report abuse
