Wenger: I turned down offers for the Love of Arsenal

 

Arsene Wenger says he turned down opportunities to manage other Premier League clubs because of his love for Arsenal.

The Frenchman spent 22 years in charge of the north Londoners, winning three league titles and a record seven FA Cups before his departure in 2018.

Wenger has not held another managerial position since his departure from the Emirates Stadium, although he insists he is still open to a return to the dugout.

However, the 69-year-old has declared that he will not take charge of another English Club given his connection with the Gunners.

“I’m an Arsenal man and after that I’m a professional. I can’t stop working,” Wenger told Sky Sports.

“I decided to move out of the Premier League because I am too linked with Arsenal. I had opportunities to work in England but I turned them down.

“I don’t want to tell you [which clubs] because there are people in charge and it would unfair to them.”

Wenger also defended the job he did during more than two decades at Arsenal, even though he did not win a Premier League title in his last 14 years at the helm.

The former Monaco boss did oversee the relocation from Highbury to the Emirates, however, and he believes the club will continue to reap the rewards for years to come.

“I know it is normal that people always want more. We won a lot and we built the stadium,” Wenger said.

“It’s difficult to explain today the circumstances in which we built the stadium because the turnovers today have been multiplied by five.

Wenger also confirmed that he is considering an offer to join FIFA as the organisation’s Chief of Football Development.