Courtesy: Sky News
English football club Arsenal’s long-serving manager Arsene Wenger will leave at the end of the season.
The 68-year-old has managed the London outfit for 22 years, during which he won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, including the Double in 1998 and 2002.
“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,” Wenger said on Friday.
“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,” he added.
Arsenal said Wenger’s replacement will be appointed as soon as possible.
Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke described Friday’s announcement as “one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport”.
“One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsene has brought to the club on and off the pitch. His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched,” he added.
Rumours of Wenger’s exit have lingered since the beginning of the season, but the Frenchman always played them down, only saying he would hold talks with the club at the end of the season.
The Gunners are currently ranked 6th on the PL table with 54 points, 14 points adrift of Tottenham Hotspurs who occupy the last Champions League qualification spot.
The club can however still qualify for the elite European competition if it wins the Europa League.
Arsenal is scheduled to play Atletico Madrid in the Semi-final stage of the tournament. The winner of that clash will meet the victor from the game pitting Red Bull Salzburg and Marseille, for the title.
