Sports

My biggest regret was staying at Arsenal for 22 years – Arsene Wenger

Published

6 years ago

July 18, 2018

Former Arsenal manager , Arsene Wenger , has said that staying at the club for nearly 22 years may have been the biggest mistake of his career .He said that he regretted sacrificing “everything ” for the job .

The 68 -year -old Frenchman , who was appointed in October , 1996, left the north London club at the end of last season after winning three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups .

In an interview with French outlet , RTL , Wenger said that he would make a decision on his future “ in the next few months ”.

When asked what the biggest mistake of his career were , Wenger said: “Perhaps , staying at the same club for 22 years .

“I ’ m someone who likes new things , likes change. But, I also like challenges . I was a little bit of a prisoner to my challenge each time . ”

Wenger admitted that he was obsessed with ensuring Arsenal ’ s success on the pitch, adding that sacrifices in his personal life were one the hardest parts of being a manager .

“I regret having sacrificed everything I did because I realise I ’ ve hurt a lot of people around me.

“I ’ ve neglected a lot of people . I ’ ve neglected my family , I ’ ve neglected many close ones .

“Deep down though , the obsessed man is selfish in his pursuit of what he loves . He ignores a lot of other things .

“ But it ’ s a bone to chase at the same time , ” he added .

Wenger was also confident that former Arsenal players, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira , who were now pursuing coaching careers , had the qualities to succeed at the top level .

Vieira recently became Nice coach , while Henry , assistant to Belgium boss, Roberto Martinez, at the World Cup , has quit his Sky Sports punditry role to focus on becoming a manager .

However , Wenger warned the French pair of the sacrifices involved in following a coaching career .

“Often , I ’ m asked if Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira will be good managers and I always answer yes, ” he said.

“They have all the qualities ; they are intelligent , they know football , they have excellent skill sets , but do they want to sacrifice what needs to be sacrificed to do only that ?

“It ’ s an obsession which bounces around your head day and night. ”

NAN