Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal Football Club at the end of the season after almost 22 years at the club having won three Premier League titles and a record seven Football Association Cups.
Arsenal made the surprise announcement on Friday morning. Wenger signed a fresh two-year contract extension last summer.
The 68-year-old French manager released a statement on the Arsenal club website as it reads below:
“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 for ever.”
Wenger was appointed Arsenal’s manager in September 1996 and led the gunners to the double in his first full season in charge.
Another double followed in 2002 before the Invincibles campaign, when Arsenal won the 2003-2004 title without losing a single game.
Since 2005, Arsenal went nine years without winning a major trophy until 2014 in which they won the FA Cup.
The announcement comes after Arsenal board became concerned about declining attendances at the Emirates stadium. But today’s announcement suggests he has finally accepted he can no longer take the club forward.
