There were cryptic words from former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger this week as he announced that he announced that he expects to be back at work on January 1st, 2019. Obviously not linking himself with a club at this point, the Frenchman said that he has taken in offers from all over the world.
Arsene Wenger Next Managerial Job*
Real Madrid – 7/2
France – 11/2
PSG – 11/2
Any Chinese Club – 11/2
AC Milan – 11/2
Monaco – 11/2
Any MLS Club – 10/1
England – 16/1
Bayern Munich – 20/1
Japan – 20/1
Barcelona – 20/1
* (betting odds taken from Ladbrokes on October 17th, 2018 at 8:12 pm).
Back In Business
So if indeed he does come back, where will the 68-year-old, who spent 22 years with the Gunners, head to? He said that he doesn’t know where his next job will be, but it could be with an association, national team or even a return to Japan where he briefly had a stint with Nagoya Grampus Eight. He is 20/1 to take over as actual Japan boss* (betting odds taken on October 17th, 2018 at 8:12 pm).
Top European Club Jobs Could Be Open
However, there are some high profile clubs around at the moment who are struggling and could be ready to shake things up at the turn of the new year. Among them are Real Madrid who are 8/1 to be Wenger’s next club* (betting odds taken on October 17th, 2018 at 8:12 pm).
Under new manager Julen Lopetegui, Los Blancos have gone off the boil with a D1 L3 record in their last four games in all competitions, not having managed to score in any of those fixtures. So Wenger would probably be a decent target for the club there to take over and get them going again if this slump continues.
Bayern Munich are misfiring a bit this season as well and they are unhappy with the way things are going under new coach Niko Kovac. Former Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis is at AC Milan so that could be another possible destination. Wenger is at 7/1 to manage any Chinese club* (betting odds taken on October 17th, 2018 at 8:12 pm). But we feel that he would probably take on an international role before that.
International Doors Open
So what open opportunities are there? Germany are struggling badly at the moment while Ireland are likely to have a change of manager soon. He will be linked with a move back to France of course, but with PSG motoring along at the top of the table, it’s unlikely that there is going to be a vacancy there anytime soon.
Nor at the national level. If he does go international, you can’t help feel that it would probably be with someone like Japan where there is little pressure and it is somewhere where he has some kind of familiarity with.
Wegner started his managerial career at Nancy before moving on to Monaco. He won the league title with Monaco and with the terrible season they are having (currently in Ligue 1’s bottom three) that is a much more likely fit at 10/1 odds* (betting odds taken on October 17th, 2018 at 8:12 pm)
