Arsenal were crazy to give me this job; 13 YEARS ON, WENGER ADMITS: I WAS FOREIGN, HAD NO NAME, NO HISTORY.Byline: JOHN CROSS ARSENE WENGER will become Arsenal's longest-serving manager this week after admitting the club were "crazy" to give him the job in the first place. The Frenchman overtakes legendary former boss George Allison, having been in charge for 13 years to the day on Thursday - a staggering 4,745 days. But despite being Arsenal's most successful manager of all time, Wenger says that he cannot afford another year without a trophy. It is a big admission from Wenger bearing in mind that he has won two Doubles, including three Premier League titles and four FA Cups. The boss, who turns 60 next month, still remembers when he was first given the job in 1996 and fans were asking: "Arsene who?" Wenger has since become a trailblazer for foreign managers in the Premier League even if, by his own admission, the club took a major gamble to give him the job. "Yes it was (a gamble) and when I think retrospectively, that is the biggest surprise to me," said Wenger. "Because at that time, what Arsenal did, you needed to be a little bit crazy. Crazy in the sense that I had no name, I was foreign, there was no history. "I don't believe I could only have done that at Arsenal. Arise Sir out the knights we'd mirrorfootball.opinion But I believe I was lucky to find at Arsenal the support, and that is important for success. "My first impression was to convince people I have the needed quality to do the job that I have. I still try to do that today. It has not changed. "Today every foreign manager who comes in is welcomed with red carpet. It was not like that when I arrived. There was a history and belief in England that the foreign manager could not be successful. "Now you have a different feeling, now you think only foreign managers can be successful. That is wrong as well." Giggsy! Check footballing love to see at co.uk/ But Wenger was overlooked for the job in 1995 - because the Arsenal board favoured Bruce Rioch Bruce David Rioch (born September 6, 1947 in Aldershot) most recently held the position of coach of football club Odense BK in the Danish Superliga. A former player himself, he represented the Scotland national football team in 24 matches, becoming the first Scottish (by virtue of . Rioch lasted just over one year before Wenger - who was working in Japan - was brought in and that marked a turning point... in the Premier League favouring foreign bosses over British. The Frenchman has not looked back, citing the 2003-04 Invincibles season as his high point and last season's Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester United as his low. "To play a whole season unbeaten. No matter how much money anybody else has invested, nobody else has done that," said Wenger. "But losing the semi-final of the Champions League was the lowest point because we didn't play at our level." Wenger, whose contract expires in 2011, would not commit himself yesterday to answering if he would sign a new deal. Instead, he admitted this season is a pivotal one. Wenger said: "It's an important season and I want to completely focus on it. We have waited three or four seasons for this team to mature. "I would not say now or never, because it's not now or never. They will be highly successful. But it's an important season for our policy to do well." Arise Sir Giggsy! Check out the footballing knights we'd love to see at mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion Allison was made of the write stuff GEORGE ALLISON was born in Darlington and came to London in 1905, becoming programme editor at Highbury. Ex-journalist Allison (above) rose to managing director and was named manager in June 1934. He won the League in 1935 and 1938, as well as the FA Cup in 1936. Wenger: Longest serving in a long-serving tradition Sam Hollis Samuel W. Hollis (1866 – April 17, 1942) was an English football manager, most notable for being the very first manager of Arsenal. Born in Nottingham,[1] 1894-97 Thomas B. Mitchell 1897-98 George Elcoat 1898-99 Harry Bradshaw Harry Bradshaw (c.1854 – 1924) was an English football manager. Although he was never a professional footballer himself, Bradshaw was appointed secretary of Burnley in 1891, and became chairman two years later. 1899-1904 Phil Kelso Phil Kelso (1871 – February 1935) was a Scottish football player and manager. He was born in Largs on the Firth of Clyde and was a coach at Hibernian, before taking over as manager of newly-promoted Woolwich Arsenal from 1904 until 1908. 1904-08 George Morrell 1908-15 Leslie Knighton Albert Leslie Knighton (born March 15, 1884 in Church Gresley, Derbyshire; died May 10, 1959, in Bournemouth) was an English football manager. After spells as an assistant manager at Huddersfield Town and Manchester City, Knighton was appointed manager of Arsenal in 1919, 1919-25 Herbert Chapman Herbert Chapman (January 19, 1878 – January 6, 1934) was an English football player and manager. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential managers in English football history. Playing career Chapman was born in Kiveton Park, near Rotherham. 1925-34 George Allison 1934-47 Tom Whittaker Tom Whittaker may refer to:
Born in Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire, Crayston played for local school sides and Ulverston Town before moving to Third Division North Barrow in 1928. 1956-58 George Swindin 1958-62 Billy Wright 1962-66 Bertie Mee 1966-76 Terry Neill 1976-83 Don Howe 1984-86 George Graham 1986-95 Stewart Houston 1995* Bruce Rioch 1995-96 Stewart Houston 1996* Arsene Wenger 1996-*caretaker manager THREE OLYMPIACOS STARS TO WATCH OLOF MELLBERG Veteran Sweden defender Mellberg will know all about the dangers of the Arsenal attack, having spent seven seasons at Aston Villa before joining Juventus in 2008, then moving on to Greece last summer. It is the fifth country in which he has played at the top level. VASILIS TOROSIDIS Versatile Torosidis scored twice in the recent win over AEK AEK Akavan Erityisalojen Keskusliitto AEK Alfabetatze Euskalduntze Koordinakundea AEK All Electric Kitchen (home/apartment rental ads) AEK Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupolis (Athens, Athletic Union of Constantinople) Athens, the Greek international impressing as Zico's side continue their unbeaten domestic record. Now the regular left-back for his country, he may line up in midfield tonight as the Greeks pack that area. DIOGO Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was once on the case of talented Brazilian youngster Diogo when he was at Sao Paulo side Portuguesa, which tells you everything about the potential of the 22-year-old forward. Chelsea and Liverpool also checked him out last season. CAPTION(S): MARBLE HALLS Arsene Wenger at Arsenal's former home Highbury, which has been converted into luxury apartments. For further information, please go to www.highburysquare.com |
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