4 reasons why every club wants Wenger as manager

Arsene Wenger has been a pillar for Arsenal and its history, at least in the short-term. In addition to the first five letters of his name, Wenger shares a relationship with the club that very few peers can claim to have with their employers. He literally built the Arsenal as we know it, right from scratch. The much talked about diet that he brought in, the additional years his new tricks lent the the-then aging back four and his general air of gumption, are all products of the foundation that the Frenchman lay. Today, as he nears the end of his contract with the club, with only one more year to go, a lot of clubs like PSG, Real Madrid and even Bayern Munich have expressed clear intent, in the past or in the present.

Here are the top four reasons why Wenger is so popular.

History

Now, a resume that big will certainly not go unnoticed, even in the biggest of recessions. But that being said, it is not only about the trophies that mark his cover page, but more about the lack of it. In the past decade, Wenger has hardly shown adequate silverware to lay claim to such attention. Any other manager with a drought lasting over 2 years at this level will be sent packing before he can say “fourth place”. But Wenger clearly has a certain charisma that has lasted him through the leanest years in the history of the London club.

Simply put, the ability to construct a framework, and function in the restrained environment that Arsenal persists with, has ensured that the world sees Wenger’s best side, even in adversity. This puts him right up there with the elite, and lets everyone wonder in the belief that Arsenal have in their manager.

The Scout

Wenger has this beautiful ability to tap in to the unknown and create absolute superstars out of them. Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie are just a few, current examples to prove that point. They were picked up young, for relatively cheaper amounts, and then they blossomed in to stars commanding attention/huge transfer fees. A lot of talents like Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini chose to part ways at junctions that seemed like they were on their way to bigger things, but they are presently wiping egg from their faces.

Wenger has a plan for his youngsters, which when followed to the T, leads to exemplary results. The best part here for a future club is the low investment in the transfer market, even though there might be a lock-in period for the talent. Eventually though, big money is certain and so is a big payoff.

Shrewd Outlook

Financial independence is the best answer that Arsenal fans have for the trophy drought they have faced/are facing. The debt that Arsenal faced after they shifted from Highbury to The Emirates is anyone’s guess, given that the state-of-the-art stadium was built in £390 million. Over the last few years, the purse has grown stronger, with only a little being spent on the apt pursuit for a football club.

A lot of naysayers have sang the ‘we need to spend’ song, but they forget that Wenger HAS spent quite a few millions on a hand-picked few. Jose Antonio Reyes for £10.5m, £15m for Andrei Arshavin and £10.8 million for Gervinho are just a few examples of how Wenger has spent a little over the average, and a little more than what they will have us believe. Either way, Wenger put Arsenal back on track, and now they can look to spend and invest on big names. It may or may not work out for Arsenal this year, but this time they look equipped with the artillery.

His ability to understand that money isn’t everything, and a bird’s eye view on things, sets him apart from the rest. This also leaves the accountant happy and smiling all the way to the bank.

Adaptable

Arsene left the J-League to shift to London and found his feet almost immediately. He was the chief architect of the Invincibles and left quite a few gasping for air after his squad demolished them. He was also quick to protect his players when they were down and out, leaking goals and seemingly unable to compete with the top four. But he stuck around, ensuring that the team was always on their guard, preparing for the worst. He was in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and he never really changed his ways or his alleged megalomania. His board was behind him, supporting him publicly and leaving the transfer reins to him because it is common knowledge that he is the best charioteer around. PSG and Real Madrid crave such longevity, with managers changing allegiance at the blink of an eye. If they want to look at the long-term, which they do, they will need Wenger; this year or the next.