Happy Birthday Wenger - Top five Arsene Wenger Quotes

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on September 29, 2012 in London, England.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger turns 63 today!

Joining Arsenal in 1996, Wenger has become the club’s longest serving and most successful manager. While his initial appointment was met with scepticism by the English media, with newspapers greeting him with the headline “Arsene Who?”, he has gone on to become one of the most successful managers in the English top flight, second in no respect to anyone but Sir Alex. Lauded for his amazing eye to spot young talent and groom them, while criticised often for having a bit too much faith in teenagers, the Frenchman will surely be remembered as the best foreign manager to grace the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger is also not one to shy away from the media, and during the course of his tenure at Arsenal, has often entertained the press with witty quotes. Here’s a selection of the Top 5:

5. “He’s out of order, disconnected with reality and disrespectful. When you give success to stupid people, it makes them more stupid sometimes and not more intelligent.”

Then Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho labelled Wenger a voyeur in 2005, and Wenger retorted with utter lack of subtlety.

4. “A football team is like a beautiful woman. When you do not tell her, she forgets she is beautiful.”

A great one from Wenger highlighting the importance of boosting team morale to a football team’s success.

3. “Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home.”

Wenger’s response to Sir Alex’s comments at the end of the 2001-02 season claiming Manchester United had been the best side since Christmas of that season. Arsenal won the league that year.

2. “If you eat caviar every day it’s difficult to return to sausages.”

Wenger won the league and cup double in his first full season in-charge in 1997-98. This quote comes following a 1-1 draw later in 1998, after some Arsenal fans booed the team during the match. Wenger was not amused, and came up with this gem of a quote referring to the high expectations of the fans.

1. “I tried to watch the Tottenham match on television in my hotel yesterday, but I fell asleep.”

A subtle, cheeky remark, taking a knock at local rivals Tottenham. This one became an instant fan favourite, quite understandably.