Top 10 Young Players Singings by Arsene Wenger for Arsenal (Part 1)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is one of the biggest names in club football and is without a doubt, a living legend. Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 and started a illustrious career in English football who is now is considered to be one of the best managers in the English Premier League. According to Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger is the only manager who gave him a hard time in his 25 year career in the English Premier League.
Bruce Rioch, Arsenal’s former manager, was sacked in August 1996. Gérard Houllier, the newly appointed Aston Villa Boss, who was the then Technical Director of the French Football Federation, recommended Wenger to David Dein, the then vice-chairman of Arsenal in the summer of 1996. Arsene Wenger’s appointment was confirmed on 28th September 1996 and the Frenchman officially took up the reins on 1st October 1996. Thus, Wenger became Arsenal's first foreign national manager in the history of the club.
Arsene Wenger's inclusion was a huge success for Arsenal. The managers first match was a 2-0 away win over Blackburn Rovers. As Wenger's first season progressed, the club finished at the third spot in the newly appointed manager's debut season. Arsenal missed out a second place finish only on goal difference to Newcastle United.
Arsene Wenger has been described as a manager who "has spent his career building teams that are capable of winning trophies with a desire to hugely attack and entertain." and as "a search, devoted to individual and collective technical quality". This Frenchman had an attacking approach to the game of football which is why Arsenal defeated the very best teams in the EPL.
Moreover, Arsene Wenger’s strong reputation for unearthing young talent brought him to the limelight for the good reasons as well. This Frenchman brought George Weah while he was at Monaco who became FIFA’s World Player of the Year with A.C. Milan. He also discovered Tonnerre Yaoundé from Cameroon who went on to become the African Player of the Year.
Here are some of Arsene Wenger’s most successful young football player signings for Arsenal.
Patrick Vieira - signed from Milan in 1996
Arsenal's former captain and current Manchester United player Patrick Vieira is considered as a prime example of Wenger's transfer market nous. Arsene Wenger clinched Vieira from relative obscurity out of Milan's reserves in September 1996 for only £3.5 million - a figure which would be deemed a bargain in years to come. Without a doubt, Patrick Vieira is one of the best signings that Arsene Wenger has achieved in his career so far. This midfielder led Arsenal during the clubs domination of English football at the expense of Manchester United.
During his stay at Arsenal, Patrick Vieira won three Premier League titles which with one unbeaten season along with four FA Cup wins for the Gunners. Vieira’s success story doesn’t stop over here as he went on to lead the French national football team, earning 107 caps for France. He was a vital member of the French World Cup winning squad and EURO 2000 as well.
Vieira’s height, stamina and physical strength made it easier for the Frenchman to settle in the English Premier League. Vieira’s composure and quality of passing ensured his position as an integral part of Wenger's complex game playing and stylish attacking side. Moreover, this former French midfielder skippered the 'Invincibles' through their unbeaten 2003-04 season.
Vieira represented Arsenal on more than 200 matches and scored more than 50 goals for the team. With his success at the Emirates, many big European clubs including Real Madrid showed immense interest in this talented midfielder.
Consequently, Arsene Wenger accepted a £20 million bid from the Italian giants on 14 July 2005.The Frenchman, now at Manchester City, remains the last Arsenal captain to lift a trophy at the 2005 FA Cup.
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