Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger began his managerial career in 1981 as youth coach at RC Strasbourg, the club he had a short spell with as a player. He went on to become assistant manager of AS Cannes before accepting his first senior management position with AS Nancy Lorraine in 1984. In three seasons with Nancy he enjoyed little success, culminating in the side's relegation to Ligue 2 in his final year.
His managerial fortunes took a turn for the better in 1987 when he became manager of AS Monaco. In his first season he won the French League Championship and was named French Manager of the Year. In 1991, he accrued more silverware after guiding his side to victory in the French Cup. He parted company with the club in 1994 following a poor start to the season.
The Frenchman's career took an unexpected twist later that year, when he was appointed manager of Japanese J-League team Nagoya Grampus Eight. During a successful 18 months, Wenger won Japan's Manager of the Year award in 1995, as well as the Emperor's Cup and Japanese Super Cup in 1996. At the same time he took the struggling side from the bottom three to runners-up in the J-League.
His success as a manager alerted the attention of Arsenal and he was installed at Highbury in September 1996, becoming the first overseas manager to take charge of the Gunners. The relatively unknown head coach proved a big hit with the North London side with his revolutionary approach to training and tactics soon paying dividends. In the 1997/98 season he guided the club to a league and FA Cup double and, in doing so, was awarded the 1998 FA Carling Premiership Manager of the Year award.
In the four-year period that followed, Arsenal finished second in the league in consecutive seasons, before they once again managed the double in 2001/02. The side won the FA Cup the year after and in 2003/04 they made Premier League history, becoming the first side to win the title without a single defeat during the season - Wenger and his men were duly hailed as 'the Invincibles'.
The 2004/05 season saw Arsenal pick up a fourth FA Cup under Wenger and the Frenchman become the most successful Gunners manager in terms of trophy wins. In 2005/06, the club made it to the Champions League final for the first time in their history but lost 2-1 to Barcelona.
Arsenal's 1-1 home draw to Birmingham City on 12th January 2008 was a milestone for Wenger - his 650th match in charge at the club. He has now overseen more matches than any other manager in the club's history.
1998/99: Runner-up in FA Carling Premiership (Arsenal)
1999: Manages 100th Premier League match (Arsenal 1-0 Blackburn Rovers, 6th April)
1999/00: Runner-up in FA Carling Premiership (Arsenal)
2000/01: Runner-up in FA Carling Premiership (Arsenal)
2001: Manages 200th Premier League match (Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal, 23rd December)
2001/02: Wins Barclaycard Premiership (Arsenal), Winner of Barclaycard Premiership Manager of the Year award
2002/03: Runner-up in Barclaycard Premiership (Arsenal)
2003/04: Wins Barclaycard Premiership (Arsenal), Winner of the Barclaycard Premiership Manager of the Year award
2004: Manages 300th Premier League match (Norwich 1-4 Arsenal, 28th August)
2004/05: Runner-up in Barclays Premiership (Arsenal)
2007: Manages 400th Premier League match (Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal, 14th March)
Celebrates 250th Premier League win as Arsenal beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the Emirates (24th November)
No comments:
Post a Comment