Ralph Hasenhuttl Reportedly Considered to Replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal

RB Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuttl is reportedly among the candidates to replace Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

That’s according to Phil Cadden of the Sun, who has stated that the Gunners are “preparing for life after” Wenger and are casting their net to foreign shores in search of his potential successor. Hasenhuttl is said to be under consideration for the position, as is Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe.

Wenger’s contract at the Emirates Stadium is set to expire at the end of the current campaign, fuelling speculation that this season could be the last of his remarkable tenure in north London. The Frenchman was appointed by the club in 1996 and has won three Premier League titles and six FA Cups.

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Replacing the 67-year-old when he does depart will be a huge challenge for Arsenal, and it’d be no surprise if a range of candidates were considered. Hasenhuttl would be an interesting one.

The RB Leipzig boss has received enormous praise for his work with the newly promoted Bundesliga side, who sit top of the table ahead of the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Squawka Football recently summed up the progress they’ve made this term:

The club has a clutch of young players who have thrived in the top flight, and Hasenhuttl deserves credit for the part he’s played in their success.

He is a bundle of energy on the sidelines and clearly a galvanising presence to his players. According to Cadden, Hasenhuttl has been compared to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp due to the way he manages, while it’s suggested he has also been dubbed the “Alpine Mourinho” in some quarters.

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It’s not the only impressive stint Hasenhuttl has enjoyed in management, either.

Prior to moving to Leipzig in the summer, he had a superb spell at Ingolstadt. In his first season he saved the club from relegation to the third tier, in his third he earned promotion to the Bundesliga and last term they finished an impressive 11th in the top flight.

Now, as noted by sports journalist Rafael Hernandez, he’s doing a tremendous job having taken over from Ralf Rangnick ahead of the campaign:

For a lot of Arsenal supporters, the club need to make a statement with their next manager when Wenger departs. The Premier League, after all, is awash with world-class coaches at the moment, and the prospect of the Gunners hiring a non-household name may underwhelm some who frequent the Emirates.

But Arsenal were ahead of the curve 20 years ago when they made the bold decision to appoint Wenger. With that in mind, an acquisition in the mould of Hasenhuttl wouldn’t be a huge surprise for a club that always seeks to conduct business in a unique way.