Arsene Wenger is like a dark spectre floating around Europe waiting to replace any top manager
Guess who’s back.
After being unceremoniously sacked by mob rule leaving Arsenal following 20 years of revolution, evolution and then utter stagnation, Wenger has decided he can’t live without football management.
His return casts a long shadow over all the top jobs in Europe.
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“I’ll be coming for your job next.”Reuters
Especially the European heavyweights who are spluttering this season.
Since leaving the Gunners the whole prospect of ‘Arsene Wenger: football manager’ has become a lot more appealing to Europe’s major clubs.
There was little-to-no chance of Wenger being picked for one of the top jobs in recent years, A) it seemed impossible that he would ever willingly leave the Emirates and B) following his fallow years it would have been a hard sell to the fans.
Now he’s seen as an elder statesmen of the game and one of the safest pair of hands to guide a side back into a Champions League spot (his absolute speciality) and wouldn’t it be nice to see him get one more league title?
You all love him nowPA:Empics Sport
Wenger announced that he is ready to return to management in January, demonstrating a Jose Mourinho-esque level of gamesmanship, that will put every manager who is not top of their league on notice.
He is like a football management grim reaper ready to be called upon whenever to come in and do a job at a moment’s notice.
And for the likes for Niko Kovac at Bayern Munich and Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid his notice couldn’t have come at a worse time.
You better watch out JoseGetty - Contributor
The threat of Wenger is certainly real.
Lopetegui has overseen a run of four games without a win nor a goal, including three defeats, and could face the worst six months of his career so far.
Being sacked from the Spain job a day before the World Cup started for his treachery only to lose his dream job at Real half a season later is down there at rock bottom.
Florentino Perez has had to deny rumours he’s talking to Antonio Conte, but alongside the Italian Wenger his floating around waiting to pounce on a top job.
When someone tells you Real Madrid haven’t scored a goal in four gamesREUTERS
For Kovac the picture is even bleaker.
After winning six successive Bundesliga titles FC Hollywood have also gone four games without a win and are way down in sixth in the table.
The vultures have already started to circle with rumours abound that the Bayern executives could be planning to bring in Arsene to steady the ship and have another crack at Champions League glory.
… The clock is ticking Niko.
How would that coat look with a Man United badgePA:Press Association
Now this would be the ultimate turning of tables.
Mourinho is doing his best to suck the fun out of being United manager for everyone involved.
Having once described Wenger as a ‘specialist in failure’ it would be the perfect irony if Wenger were to be the man United called upon to replace Jose.
It might be one of the most pleasing sights in football to watch Mourinho spontaneously combust as he leaves Old Trafford while Wenger moves in to his office.
But in reality, would Wenger have any chance of organising a defence containing Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones? Probably not.
This is a perfect metaphorNews Group Newspapers Ltd
Whereever he finally lands up, Wenger has sent metaphorical shockwaves through the elite manager class as they realise one wrong move and he will be ready to swoop in and take their girl, I mean job.
His decline into part parody, part joke figure was a sad way to end his Arsenal career but no one could deny a final swansong at a great European club would be pure football poetry.
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