Patrick Vieira has revealed that he wanted to take coaching activities at Arsenal but wasn’t provided with an opportunity to return to the club.
The midfielder spent nine years with the Gunners and enjoyed great success during his time at the club as he won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.
After spells with Inter Milan, Juventus and Manchester City, Vieira was hoping to return to Arsenal and embark on his coaching career, but the North London club didn’t give him a chance to commence his coaching career at the club.
The former midfielder instead went on to coach Manchester City’s development side and is now the manager of New York City FC. Vieira has suggested he feels let down by the Gunners due to their failure to offer him a coaching role.
Speaking to RMC Sport, he said:
It’s true that after spending nine years at Arsenal, it’s the club of my heart – the one where I played my best football – I would have liked if the door was more open to me or other players who spent time there and who would have wanted to learn their career as a coach.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. I was lucky to arrive at Manchester City at the right moment, but it’s true that it leaves a little disappointment with regards to Arsenal.
I don’t think that [myself, Thierry Henry or others] have the ambition to claim the spotlight at Arsenal, because it’s not possible. Things must be done naturally.
Vieira impressed while in charge of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad for two years, which led to him taking up the challenge of managing the MLS side, New York City FC.
It is a surprise that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has never approached Vieira. As someone who the Arsenal manager trusted so implicitly to lead his team into battle, it is a mystery as to why his experience and knowledge wasn’t retained by the club.
It could be argued that Vieira is such a commanding, imposing presence that Wenger could have felt undermined or maybe the former midfielder’s coaching ambitions just didn’t tally with those of his experienced compatriot.
His experience, leadership and international standing would have been a huge boost to the Londoners, and it is likely to be only a matter of time before Vieira returns to Europe in charge of a big club.
