Wenger read Economics and Management Studies at the University of Strasbourg, spent three weeks at the Language School in Cambridge and went to the Centre de Resources of Sport, Strasbourg. He introduced diet (no red meat), nutrition (pasta and no alcohol), vitamin injections, creatine supplements, high altitude preparation in Austria, varied playing positions, isometrics, statistics and video studies with strategy and allowed his back room staff to have their inputs. This was revolutionary in the mid 1990s and when I did my UEFA A, the Football Association had introduced new parts to the syllabus which undoubtedly had been influenced by Wenger.
Then there was the introduction of "foreign" players such as Emmanuel Petite from Monaco and the "rest" who made Arsenal one of the great post war teams.
He also got on the right side of his leaders like Tony Adams, no easy achievement and encouraged them to learn how to play in varied positions on the pitch. We think he also changed players' "habits" but let's not get to convinced about that. Before he went into management he had been offered a role as Technical director at the English FA.
With a modest youth career in Duttleheim and Mutzig from 1963-73, he also played only 67 times at the higher level until 1981. His managerial career may have been inspired by his father who managed the local village side. Arsene went to Nancy, AS Monaco, the J League Nagoya Grampus Eight and arrived at Highbury in 1996 after George Graham and Bruce Rioch's reigns.
Was Wenger "marmite"? There were plenty of of ups and downs; he has done the right thing. Hopefully the Europa League may give him a proper send off and Huddersfield will be his last Premier league outing! Who managed Town? Herbert Chapman manager of Huddersfield and Arsenal!
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