New Delhi:
Arsenal on Friday announced that manager Arsene Wenger will leave the club after almost 22 years of being in-charge.
The club statement read, “After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season.”
"I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years. I managed the club with full commitment and integrity. I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special.
"I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high. To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club. My love and support forever."
The 68-year-old veteran won three Premier League titles, leading the club to their unbeaten ‘invincibles’ season, and lifted seven FA Cups during his tenure.
"I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high,” said Wenger.
"To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club. My love and support for ever," he added.
Here are the 5 most fascinating facts about the Frenchman:
1. Arsene Wenger is a degree holder in Economics from University of Strasbourgwhere, where he got enrolled at the Faculté des sciences économiques et de gestion (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences) in 1971.
2. ‘33179 Arsènewenger’, an asteroid is famously named after the Arsenal manager and it remains the only asteroid to be named after a football manager. The asteroid was discovered on March 29, 1998 by Ian P. Griffin, who is a die-hard fan of Arsenal Football Club.
3. Wenger speaks six different languages – French, German, English, Spanish, Italian and a spattering of Japanese. A similar trait which his long term rival Jose Mourinho also possess.
4. When managing Japanese club Nagoya Grampus Eight, Arsene Wenger wrote a book ‘The spirit of Conquest’ which was exclusively for the Japanese market.
5. Wenger’s last playing club was RC Strasbourg. He won the Ligue 1 title in 1978 and retired soon after winning the league, at the age of 32.
