Arsène Wenger Quotes

Arsène Charles Ernest Wenger is a French football manager and former player. He was the manager of Arsenal from 1996 to 2018, where he was the longest-serving and most successful in the club's history. His contribution to English football through changes to scouting, players' training, and diet regimens revitalised Arsenal and aided the globalisation of the sport in the 21st century.

Born in Strasbourg and raised in Duttlenheim to an entrepreneurial family, Wenger was introduced to football by his father, the manager of the local village team. After a modest playing career, in which he made appearances for several amateur clubs, Wenger obtained a manager's diploma in 1981. Following an unsuccessful period at Nancy which culminated in his dismissal in 1987, Wenger joined Monaco; the club won the league championship in 1988. In 1991, Wenger guided Monaco to victory in the Coupe de France, but their failure to regain the league title in later seasons led to his departure from the club by mutual consent in 1994. He briefly coached J.League side Nagoya Grampus Eight and won the Emperor's Cup and Japanese Super Cup during his stay in Japan.

Wenger was named manager of Arsenal in 1996, and two years later, he led the club to a Premier League and FA Cup double. The club won another league and cup double in 2002 and retained the FA Cup a year later. In 2004, Wenger managed Arsenal to an undefeated domestic league season, a feat last accomplished by Preston North End, 115 years previously. Arsenal later eclipsed Nottingham Forest's record of 42 league matches unbeaten and went seven more matches before losing in October 2004. The club made their first appearance in a Champions League final in 2006, though they lost to Barcelona. After a period of almost nine years without a trophy, which coincided with the club relocating to the Emirates Stadium, Wenger guided Arsenal to further FA Cup success in 2014, 2015 and 2017, before stepping down as manager a year later.

The nickname "Le Professeur" is used by fans and the British media to reflect Wenger's studious demeanour. His approach to the game emphasises an attacking mentality, with the aim that football ought to be entertaining on the pitch. Wenger's Arsenal teams have been criticised for their indiscipline; his players received 100 red cards between September 1996 and February 2014, though the team has won awards for sporting fair play. At Monaco, Wenger earned a reputation for spotting young talent, and he has remained focused on developing a youth system. Wikipedia  

✵ 22. October 1949
Arsène Wenger photo
Arsène Wenger: 52   quotes 1   like

Famous Arsène Wenger Quotes

“No matter how much money you earn, you can only eat three meals a day and sleep in one bed.”

On Nicolas Anelka, (July 1999) http://archive.is/20130109094446/markarbouine.tripod.com/quotes/quotes3.htm

“When I first came to Arsenal, I realised the back four were all university graduates in the art of defending. As for Tony Adams, I consider him to be a doctor of defence. He is simply outstanding.”

On Arsenal's famous back four, (1997)
Quotations from the Public Comments of Arsene Wenger: Manager, Arsenal Football Club (2005)

“I was surprised by the resources they find. They are amazing. It doesn't get any worse than losing a Champions League game the way we did, but I felt the way they responded was absolutely magnificent.”

Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool (9 April 2004) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3606745.stm
Interviews

“Everybody has a different opinion in this league and nobody is a prophet. I personally don’t know who will win the league. I managed 1,600 games so, if Nani knows, he must be 1,600 times more intelligent than I am.”

About Nani, (December 2010) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8222215/Arsene-Wenger-mocks-Nani-for-dismissing-Arsenals-Premier-League-title-chances.html

“Of the nine red cards this season we probably deserved half of them.”

7 April 1999
Quotations from the Public Comments of Arsene Wenger: Manager, Arsenal Football Club (2005)

“Spare me the articles about how nice Shawcross is because that was a horrendous tackle. People say we don’t fancy the physical side of it, but this is the result. If you see a player getting injured like that, it’s not acceptable.”

Ryan Shawcross after injuring Aaron Ramsey. (28 February 2010) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article7043736.ece

Arsène Wenger Quotes about people

“My job is to give people who work hard all week something to enjoy on Saturdays and Wednesdays.”

6 February 2004
Quotations from the Public Comments of Arsene Wenger: Manager, Arsenal Football Club (2005)

“We've been remarkably consistent, haven't lost a game and we have played stylish football. We have entertained people who just love football.”

Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal (25 April 2004) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3650757.stm
Interviews

“When you give success to stupid people, it makes them more stupid sometimes and not more intelligent.”

On José Mourinho, (November 2005) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/4398238.stm
Context: He's out of order, disconnected with reality and disrespectful. When you give success to stupid people, it makes them more stupid sometimes and not more intelligent.

“Any man who concentrates his energies totally on one passion is, by definition, someone who hurts the people close to him.”

On Sir Alex Ferguson, (February 2007) http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007060364,00.html

Arsène Wenger Quotes about the world

“Fair play is an English word. It is not a French word, and it has been copied all over the world. Unfortunately, it does not function any more here.”

19 April 1997
Quotations from the Public Comments of Arsene Wenger: Manager, Arsenal Football Club (2005)

“It's like you wanting to marry Miss World and she doesn't want you, what can I do about it?”

José Antonio Reyes, (2007) http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=412298&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Wenger+rejects+Atletico's+bid+for+Reyes+as+an+'insult'
Context: It's like you wanting to marry Miss World and she doesn't want you, what can I do about it? I can try to help you, but if she does not want to marry you what can I do?

“But there are not many players in the world who will make a real difference.”

Joint Interview with The Times and Daily Mail (2009)
Context: OK, I’m not against that [spending £100m]. If you have the money and you find the one player who can make you win and make the difference, no matter how expensive he is you should do it. But there are not many players in the world who will make a real difference.

“You weren't world class when Arsenal signed you.”

Patrick Vieira, (2004) http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/169064/Its-time-to-buy-top-stars.html
Arsenal (1996–present)

Arsène Wenger: Trending quotes

“The speed at which we moved the ball in small spaces and our quality was superb. We played the ball through needles and it was very difficult for Aston Villa.”

Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal (1 December 2007) http://www.soccerway.com/news/2007/December/01/premiership-rivals-will-struggle-against-us-says-wenger/
Interviews

“They [Chelsea] are a financially doped club.”

The phrase 'financial doping', first used by Wenger in a press conference on the eve of the 125th FA Cup final. (21 May 2005) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article524819.ece
Attributed
Context: They [Chelsea] are a financially doped club. They have enhancement of performances through financial resources which are unlimited. It puts pressure on the market that is not very healthy. They can go to Steven Gerrard or Rio Ferdinand and say ‘how much do you earn? We’ll give you twice as much’. I don’t know if there is anything we can do to stop it.

“Politically, I am for efficiency. Economically first.”

Joint Interview with The Times and Daily Mail (2009)
Context: Politically, I am for efficiency. Economically first. Until the 1980s the world was divided into two, people were either communist or capitalist. The communist model does not work economically, we all realised that, but the capitalist model in the modern world also looks to be unsustainable. You cannot ignore individual interests, but I believe the world evolves slowly. The last 30 years have brought a minimum amount of money for everybody in the west, the next step, politically, would be a maximum amount of money earned by everybody.

Arsène Wenger Quotes

“It's like a child who is used to having ice cream whenever he wants.”

Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal (6 November 2004) http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2004/nov/08/match.sport10?INTCMP=SRCH
Interviews
Context: It's like a child who is used to having ice cream whenever he wants. When it doesn't come when he asks he tends to get confused and nervous.

“This guy should never play football again. What is he doing on the football pitch?”

Martin Taylor, who injured Arsenal striker Eduardo. (23 February 2008) http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/feb/23/newsstory.birminghamcityfc
Context: This guy should never play football again. What is he doing on the football pitch? I've gone along with the idea for a long time that to stop Arsenal, you have to kick Arsenal. I knew that was coming for a long time now.

“I could not leave this team at this stage of their development.”

Joint Interview with The Times and Daily Mail (2009)
Context: I want to go to the end of my job here. I built this team, I want to deliver with this team and I feel if I left I would have in some way betrayed my own beliefs. It is as simple as that. It was nothing to do with what Real Madrid has done. It was about Arsenal. I have a project here that I started three or four years ago and I want to reach the end of it. I could not leave this team at this stage of their development.

“When I see Barcelona, to me it is art.”

Joint Interview with The Times and Daily Mail (2009)
Context: At the end of the day, I ask you: who is the most successful team in the world? Brazil. What do they play? Good football. Who won everything last year? Barcelona. What do they play? Lovely football. I am not against being pragmatic because to be pragmatic is to make a good pass, not a bad pass. It is as simple as that. When I see Barcelona, to me it is art.

“The problem of the media is always to imagine the worst. The problem of the manager is always to imagine the best.”

(2008) http://news.arseblog.com/2014/03/arsene-wenger-at-1000-in-stats-and-quotes/
Arsenal (1996–present)
Context: If I go into a season and I say, ‘For fuck’s sake, if we don’t win anything, they will all leave,’ I have already lost. The problem of the media is always to imagine the worst. The problem of the manager is always to imagine the best.

“In my job, you expect to suffer. That's why when I go to hell one day, it will be less painful for me than you, because I'm used to suffering.”

On Arsenal's summer, (2011) http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14859401
Arsenal (1996–present)

“In England, football is important for everybody.”

22 November 1996
Quotations from the Public Comments of Arsene Wenger: Manager, Arsenal Football Club (2005)

“We do not buy superstars. We make them.”

(2007) http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8750_5643990,00.html
Arsenal (1996–present)

“Despite the global warming, England is still not warm enough for him.”

José Antonio Reyes, (July 2007) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/6900962.stm

“I am still hopeful we can go through the season unbeaten - a frightening thought.”

On his team's performances (2002) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2999849.stm
Arsenal (1996–present)

“The penalty decision was Old Traffordish.”

Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal (29 August 2009) http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrischarles/2009/12/quotes_of_the_year_2009.html
Interviews

“I'm ready to take the blame for all the problems of English football if that is what he wants.”

Interview in reaction to comments made by Sir Alex Ferguson who highlighted the lack of homegrown players at Arsenal, (November 2007) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/7090693.stm

“I feel Bolton played a cup game today, they were one week late.”

Bolton 2-1 Arsenal (24 April 2011) http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3371710,00.html
Interviews

“I liked the pitch, I liked the referee, I did not like Paul Scholes' tackles.”

Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal (12 March 2011) http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13032011/58/fa-cup-wenger-slams-scholes-tackles.html
Interviews

“You forget what you wrote last September, October, November. You have a little bit of Alzheimer's.”

Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal (24 November 2011) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2237791/Aston-Villa-0-Arsenal-0--Match-report.html
Interviews

“Going back in time, looking back is just as scary. […] there’s not as much to come as what has already been lived… The only way to fight time is to not look back too much. If you do, it can make you feel anxious and guilty.”

On His Anxiety and his relationship with time, (2015) http://www.ysone.com/coupons/store/puma-com/Arsene-Wenger-Famous-Quotes-of-2015
Arsenal (1996–present)

“Nobody will finish above us in the league. It wouldn't surprise me if we were to go unbeaten for the whole of the season.”

Before the 2002-03 season commenced, (2002) http://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/18/newsstory.sport7
Arsenal (1996–present)

“If I give you a good wine, you will see how it tastes and after you ask where it comes from.”

Transfers, (2007) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/6366009.stm
Arsenal (1996–present)

“The background looks like a lot of red cards.”

On Arsenal's redesigned club crest. (2002) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/3040541/Quotes-of-the-year.html
Arsenal (1996–present)

“I told you last week that the race was not over when the bookmakers stopped betting. Surprise, surprise, they have started taking money again.”

Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal (13 March 1998) http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tHAWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7xQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1443,6363503&dq=bookmaker+manchester+united
Interviews

“You ask 100 people, 99 will say it's very bad and the 100th will be Mark Hughes.”

Manchester City 4-2 Arsenal (12 September 2009) http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrischarles/2009/12/quotes_of_the_year_2009.html
Interviews

“Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home.”

In response to Sir Alex Ferguson's jibe that his team weren't deserving league and cup champions — "They are scrappers who rely on belligerence - we are the better team", (May 2002) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1975624.stm

“We were considering him (Ruud van Nistelrooy) and Francis Jeffers and, in the end, we went for Jeffers.”

About Francis Jeffers (2001) http://www.laughfc.co.uk/stories/story.php?id=324

“When you are a player, you think, 'Me! Me! Me!' When you are a manager, you think 'You! You! You!”

8 February 2002
Quotations from the Public Comments of Arsene Wenger: Manager, Arsenal Football Club (2005)

“If you eat caviar every day it's difficult to return to sausages.”

Arsenal 1-1 Middlesbrough (29 November 1998) http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60615442.html
Interviews

“We need a player who will be a fox in the box and on the pitch. We need a player like Owen is for Liverpool.”

Thierry Henry, in an interview after the 2001 FA Cup final. (13 May 2001) http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/1329408.stm
Misattributed

“We wanted tonight to be a shift of power, and to take the trophy back to Highbury.”

Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal (8 May 2002) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1976435.stm
Interviews

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