Arsene Wenger Wants to Manage Another Big European Club
Outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he would like to manage another top European club after he leaves London at the end of the season, per Jeremy Wilson for the Telegraph.
After spending over 30 years in football management, the Frenchman isn't ready to give up just yet.
"I am like a guy who plays Russian roulette every week and suddenly has no gun," he said in the buildup to his side's Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Thursday evening. "I will see how much I miss that gun."
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Wenger dropped his biggest hint yet that he is not finished in top level management, telling reporters: "I hope these are not my last European cup games—my target is to play in Europe again."
A report by Chris Wheatley for Goal suggested Wenger is looking for an "immediate return" to football, although at this time it is unclear which, if any, big clubs would be willing to consider the Frenchman.
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly not interested in Wenger beyond a general manager role, per Jonathan Johnson for ESPN FC, while Borussia Dortmund could be searching for a new manager in the summer.
"He will have no shortage of offers," according to David Dein, Arsenal's former vice-chairman who appointed Wenger in 1996. "I personally had calls from various people yesterday, saying, can I speak to him? He won't be short of offers from clubs," he added, per Sky Sports (via Chris Burton for Goal).
One such offer could come from China. Wenger reportedly turned down a £30 million-per-year deal from an unnamed Chinese club in February 2017 before signing a new two-year deal with Arsenal, per Matt Law for the Telegraph.
One thing that seems unlikely is a sabbatical. Asked if he would replicate the one-year break Pep Guardiola took between managing Barcelona and Bayern Munich, he said: "It's long, 365 days."
The extent of interest from European clubs, particularly those playing in either the Champions League or the Europa League, is unknown—and is unlikely to be revealed until the end of the season when managers depart. However, it looks increasingly likely that Wenger won't be retiring any time soon.
"You are never sure if you do the right thing," he said. "It will be surreal when I don't work. At the moment I work."
