Arsene Wenger left Arsenal in May 2018 after a storied 22-year tenure at the club. Now, after 18 months out of the game, the Frenchman has taken a job with FIFA as the new chief of global football development.
Arsene Wenger Gets FIFA Job
Hail to the Chief
The former manager was previously linked with a number of jobs. Arsene Wenger was recently linked with the vacant position at Bayern Munich after the Bavarians sacked Niko Kovacs.
Prior to that, he was thought to want to take charge of Lyon in his native France. However, Wenger has decided that his future lies in a different, more senior role. His new position entails overseeing and driving the development of the sport throughout the world for both men and women.
FIFA also announced that he will be the leading authority on all technical matters on two separate boards. First, as a member of the football and technical advisory panels involved with IFAB’s process of considering any potential changes to the laws of the game.
Second, as the chairman FIFA technical study group who are responsible for conducting technical analyses of all FIFA tournaments. Furthermore, Arsene Wenger will also focus on coaching education, specifically in a new executive programme which is still in its infancy.
The currently unnamed project will seek to encourage former players to enter the world of football management and technical advisory. FIFA states that it will help bridge the gap from their playing careers to their new jobs as coaches.
All Parties Delighted
Of his new position, Arsene Wenger said:
“I very much look forward to taking on this extremely important challenge, not only because I have always been interested in analysing football from a broader perspective but also because FIFA’s mission as world football’s governing body is truly global.
“I believe that the new FIFA we have seen emerging in recent years has the sport itself at the very heart of its objectives and is determined to develop the game in its many different components, I know I can contribute to this objective and will put all my energy into this.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was equally as thrilled about the appointment:
“Arsene Wenger’s profound knowledge and passion for the different aspects of our game sets him apart as one of the most respected personalities in football. I am delighted to welcome him to the team.
“Since I arrived at FIFA, we have placed football at the centre of our mission, striving to learn from those who know the sport inside out: Arsene is someone who, with his strategic vision, competence and hard work, has dedicated his life to football.
“His arrival is just another example of how we keep strengthening our purpose to bring FIFA back to football and football back to FIFA.”
Main Photo
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