Arsene Wenger has confirmed he will step down as manager of Arsenal FC at the end of this season, the news came as a surprise though he still has a year left in his contract. The club has declared that they will announce a replacement soon.
Wenger became coach of Arsenal 1st October, 1996 and has been the longest serving manager.
Wenger started his coaching Career at Nancy (France) which resulted to dismissal in 1987, but he joined AS Monaco (France), where he won the league championship in 1988. In 1991, Wenger led Monaco to win the Coupe de France, but failure to regain the league title in later seasons resulted to mutual agreement and departure from the club in 1994. His next stop was the Japanese J.League side Nagoya Grampus Eight, where he won the Emperor's Cup and Japanese Super Cup during a short period.
In 1996, Wenger was named manager of Arsenal and during this period has won 3 premier leagues, and 7 FA cups. After many years many of trophy drought, he took Arsenal to the limelight by qualifying the club for the first Champions league. Outside the trophies Wenger groomed and developed a bunch of youthful players to professional standard, players such as Cesc Fabregas, Toure, Van Persie, Sebastian Larsson, Alex song, Walcott, Sagna, Ramsey, Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshere, Wojciech Szczesny and so many. He also contributed a huge part in Arsenal home stadium 'Emirates'.
Some players who served under him have been rumored to take over from him, which includes the likes of Thieryy Henry, Patrick Vieirie and also Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone are all being mentioned as possible replacements. Arsenal is currently 6th on the premier league table and outside qualification numbers for Champions League. It will be a prefect goodbye if Wenger could win UEFA cup to put Arsenal in a qualification position for the Champions league. We wish him all the best, and wish him success in his future endeavors.