Connect with us

SPORTS

Ex-Arsenal boss Wenger joins FIFA as global development chief

Published

on

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been appointed as FIFA’s new chief of global football development.

The Frenchman is set to oversee the growth of the sport plus technical matters, the soccer’s world governing body said on Wednesday.

The 70-year-old was recently linked with the Bayern Munich job following the sacking of Niko Kovac but said that while he was approached he was never a candidate for the job.

Wenger will be the leading authority on technical matters on FIFA’s Football and Technical Advisory Panels involved in the International Football Association Board (IFAB) review and decision-making process on potential changes to the game’s laws.

He will also be the chair of a technical study group.

“I look forward to taking on this important challenge, not only because I have always been interested in analysing football from a broader perspective but also because FIFA’s mission… is truly global.

“I believe that the new FIFA we have seen emerging in recent years has the sport itself at the heart of its objectives and is determined to develop the game in its many different components.

“I know I can contribute to this objective and will put all my energy into this,” Wenger said in the FIFA statement.

Wenger will also focus on educating coaches and contribute to the development of an executive programme that will help former professionals enter management.

Wenger left Arsenal in May last year after a reign of 22 years during which he redefined the Premier League club and became their most successful manager.

He led the Gunners to three Premier League titles — including in 2003-04 when his ‘Invincibles’ team went unbeaten for an entire season — as well as seven FA Cups and took Arsenal into the Champions League for 20 years in a row.

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. A unique organization, founded in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comprising of ordinary people with an overriding commitment to seeking the truth and publishing it without fear or favour. The Verge Communications is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.

Comments
NIGERIA DECIDES

NIGERIA DECIDES

Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
GTB
JoinOurWhatsAppChannel