When you are at the helm of a club for more than two decades, it can seem a little odd to get back to managing within a short span of time.
But, that is the case with former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who made a managerial comeback, albeit for only a match. The game in discussion was Per Mertesacker’s farewell match.
Arsene Wenger took charge of the World XI which took on ‘Mertesacker’s Hannover 96 friends’ at the HDI-Arena in Hannover. Wenger’s World XI emerged winners with a 10-9 margin.
The match was a farewell for the German defender who retired at the end of last season. Since then, he has gone on to take up a role as a coach of Arsenal’s academy team.
Given the fact that Mertesacker was one of the most popular players during his time with the Gunners, fans will surely be excited to see him working backroom.
As for Wenger himself, since leaving the Emirates, he has not made any indication as to when he would become a full-time manager again. Despite this, there have been a lot of rumors going around that both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have thought of him as a potential replacement for their respective managers.
One thing that the Frenchman did make clear was that he would not return to England as a manager due to his love for the Gunners. Even if he were to take up a position with another club, it feels like he would have the backing of many Arsenal fans.
Wenger is someone who is respected all over the world for his knowledge and approach towards the game. Therefore, it would not be surprising if a big club did come in for him.
There was a lot of doubt as to how Arsenal would find life after Wenger. But, based on what we have seen so far, things seem to be going really well and that is sure to make the Frenchman happy.
