Arsene Wenger

FA Cups

Champions League

Cesc Fabregas

Birmingham

English football

FOR THE PL RECORD

ARSENE WENGER ROLL OF HONOUR

His view on football always went beyond just the field — it was enriched by economics, immersed in ideologyWhy have all the men on my timeline been reduced to mushy, sentimental wrecks?” my editor — who’d seen me go through various shades of Arsenal jerseys over the decade or so we worked together — asked over the phone last evening, hours afterhad announced he’d be stepping down as Arsenal manager at the end of the season.Here’s an attempt at answering that question, because it is a valid one.It’s one thing for fans who grew up in the neighbourhood — who’ve been for every match home and away for decades — to feel like they’ve “lost a family member” (as many of the mushy, sentimental wrecks on my timeline are saying). But how can people who grew up in Ghatkopar or Lucknow get teary eyed?For starters, sport goes far beyond geographical boundaries. It must be odd to hang around people whose weekend moods are tied so closely to how competently 11 players kicked a ball in a different time zone, but it’s something we really can’t help.Don’t judge friends in Bandra with hearts beating for Juventus because they’ve probably spent a fair chunk of their life wishing they were in Turin instead. Don’t judge us when we use “we” and “us” with zero irony when talking about a club thousands of miles away.In the case of Arsenal, if this bond was forged any time during the glory years between 1998 and 2006, a bond with Wenger was pretty much part of the deal. Two League and Cup doubles, The Invincibles, seven(three of them in the last four years), two straight decades in the... all of this while (mostly) playing beautiful football.Over the years though, as Russian and Middle-Eastern money changed the footballing landscape, the bond with Wenger grew beyond just the connection to Arsenal.Forget the fact that he could’ve upped and gone to any of the bigmoney clubs throwing come-hither looks in his direction; as Wenger-themanager’s stock started dipping, Wenger-the-philosopher took centre stage.As football turned into a sport where only today mattered — win and you’re the greatest, lose and you’re sacked in the morning — he stayed true to his vision of how football should be played.As clubs around him started buying bus-loads of readymade superstars, Wenger continued building teams around young talent. In 2008, an Arsenal team led by a 20-year-oldlooked on their way to winning the league before the in-form Eduardo had his leg broken courtesy a terrible, terrible challenge againstWenger’s view on football always went beyond just the field — it was enriched by economics, immersed in ideology.Before you knew it, you were looking at Wenger quotes for life advice.A colleague at work got promoted ahead of you? “When you give success to stupid people, it makes them more stupid sometimes...”Generally feeling blah? “The only moment of possible happiness is the present. The past gives regrets. And the future uncertainties.”Many friendships have been based on #WengerIn or #WengerOut (you can guess which ones have lasted).Is Wenger the greatest manager football has seen? No. Is he one of the greatest managers the Premiership has seen? Without doubt. Has he made a lasting impact on? More than most other managers. Has he made a lasting impact on my life? Hell yes.Which is why, dear editor, I’m a mushy, sentimental wreck.823 |473 |199 |151 |57.51997/982001/022003/041997/982001/022002/032004/052013/142014/152016/17199819992002200420142015201719982001/022003/04