Who’s the right fit for Arsenal? The frontrunners to replace Wenger
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Arsene Wenger shocked the football world on Friday, by announcing his departure as Arsenal boss at the end of this season. After more than 21 years of the Frenchman’s reign, Gooners are now bracing themselves for a new world.
Fans are waiting with bated breath to find out just who will replace him at the Emirates Stadium. And we’ve taken a look at the three frontrunners – to see who could be the perfect fit amongst them…
Securing the services of a young, Champions League-winning manager seems a dream on the face of things.
But while there’s no doubt Enrique did a good job as Barcelona boss, management is a rather easier gig when you inherit the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Neymar – to name just a few.
Returning Arsenal to their former glories is a quite different task. And his prior experience of managing a fallen giant was okay at best. As A.S. Roma boss, he led the side to a seventh-placed league finish in his only season.
Add in the side’s embarrassing Europa League play-off defeat to Slovan Bratislava, and there are big questions over whether he’s the right fit for this kind of job.
Okay, so he’s not really one for the future. But at 58-years-old, there’s reason to believe Ancelotti has at least a few more years in the game. And his sparkling CV is almost unrivalled in the pantheon of present-day managers.
A UCL winner as boss of both AC Milan (twice) and Real Madrid, he’s also led clubs to league titles in four of Europe’s top divisions. That includes a Premier League and FA Cup double with Chelsea.
With prior knowledge and pedigree in the English game, it’s hard to see a serious downside – if the Gunners can land him. Even the narrow failure to lift La Liga was offset by European and Copa del Rey honours.
Also renowned as an affable and easy-going manager, he’s equipped to deal with a Gunners squad which has housed big egos and want-away stars in recent times.
Like Ancelotti, Low would come with plenty of experience, as well as the longevity so often prided by the Gunners’ board.
Germany boss for more than 11 years to date, he led Die Mannschaft to World Cup glory in 2014 – and has helped develop some of the brightest young talents of the current generation.
However, that was the first major success following a series of near misses. Germany lost three semi-finals and a final across the WC and European Championships before eventually securing glory.
And despite managing six club sides prior to taking over the national team, he had a single league title to show for his honours – and that from the Austrian Bundesliga.
Having not managed a club side for well over a decade, and enjoying only modest success during that period, he’s possibly the biggest risk of the trio.
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