Where are they now? All the managers who were in place when Mr Wenger joined Arsenal

Roberto De Matteo. Another one bites the dust.

Would you really want a Russian owning our club?

By Cameron Wolfe.

So once again Chelsea sack their Manager. The price of working for a fickle owner. Obviously winning the Champions League and the FA cup in the same season just wasn’t enough for the owner.

I was actually surprised when Abramovich gave the job to De Matteo. I thought he’d go for another “Big” name. Nevertheless it makes you wonder what a Manager has to achieve to have long term security at Chelsea. Even Mourinho (their most successful Manager recently) only lasted three years. Is it player power once again flexing its muscle?

A section of Arsenal fans still call for us to spend money.  Get Usamov to dig into his deep pockets. They see that as the way forward for us. Some call for Usamov to be on the board or to buy Kroenke out completely and take full control of the club. Unfortunately, or at least for me. I would see that as a mirror image of the current Chelsea set up. I’m sure someone got the telephone call last night from Abramovich and told to sack De Matteo.

I like the set up at Arsenal. No one person is deciding the fate or the direction of the club. As much as Kroenke owns over 60% there is still a board in place. I’d much rather the board debate and decide the best route for Arsenal to be taking on the commercial front. Leave Arsene to the footballing side. Rather than be at the mercy of a single owner and their whims.

Arsene joined the club back in October of 1996. He brought with him new ideas of how the game should be played but more importantly he revolutionised the training and scouting systems. Largely copied now by every other club.

He is without a doubt our most successful Manager. Yet every other week when things aren’t going according to plan. Certain sections of the supporters call for him to go. So I wondered from when Arsene took charge, how many managers are still managing in the premier league?

So here in alphabetical order are those very same managers that Arsene has outlived in the EPL:

Aston Villa:    Brian Little is currently without a job after being relieved of his duties as manager of Gainsborough Trinity. ( I actually thought he was a decent EPL manager)

Blackburn Rovers:  Tony Parkes He currently works as a scout for Blackburn Rovers. (he was only caretaker of Blackburn when Arsene took over)

Chelsea:  Ruud Gullit latest project was working to promote the Belgian-Dutch 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bid.(Walter will be happy)

Coventry City:  Gordon Strachan He now works as a regular pundit for ITV’s coverage of the FA Cup.

Derby County:  Jim Smith since 2006, he has been a member of the board of directors of Oxford United.

Everton:  Dave Watson (again caretaker)  Watson was appointed as Under 18 Coach at Newcastle United on 7 November 2011.

Leeds Utd: George Graham since 2001 He has been out of football management, concentrating on his career as a football pundit for Sky Sports

Leicester City: Martin O’Neill after stints at Celtic and Aston Villa he’s currently the manager of Sunderbus (Copyright Walter)

Liverpool: Roy Evans as well as his coaching commitments, he also currently acts as a co-commentator for live audio broadcasts of Liverpool matches on the official web site

Man. Utd. SAF has been there since 1986. Still there and I’m of the believe that he will be a hard act to follow no matter who ends up at OT.

Middlesbrough: Bryan Robson  He was appointed manager of the Thailand national team. He resigned on 8 June 2011.

Newcastle Utd. Kenny Dalgliesh Despite winning the League Cup, Liverpool could only finish 8th in the Premier League, and Dalglish was dismissed in May 2012. Currently unemployed.

Nottingham Forrest: Dave Bassett In February 2011 he returned to Sheffield Utd. As a consultant but after the appointment of Danny Wilson, Bassett was understood to have quit the post, though no official statement was made.

Sheffield Wednesday: David Pleat  (I have honestly never been able to enjoy any match that he commentates on) From 2011, Pleat has been a commentator for ESPN broadcasts.

Southampton: Graeme Souness He now does media work and divides his time working as a pundit for RTÉ, ESPN, Sky Sports and Al Jazeera Sports

Sunderland: Peter Reid Until recently he managed Plymouth Argyle, taking over in June 2010, but was sacked after just over a year at the Devon club.

Tottenham Hotspur: Gerry Francis Ihe is now under Mr Pulis’s tutilidge and working as the first Team coach at Stoke City.

West Ham Utd. Mr Redknapp In June 2012, it was announced that Redknapp was joining the online gambling company, Betfair, as its ‘Euro 2012 columnist’. This involves previewing games for the tournament and providing betting tips for Betfair customers. I think he may have also managed the Spuds up until recently?

Wimbledon: Joe Kinnear (the only team on the whole list to have totally dropped put of the top flight. Currently in Div. One).  Joe Kinnear  ended up managing Newcastle Utd. But after suffering a serious health scare his contract officially expired  at Newcastle on 30 May 2009.

So to recap: Out of nineteen other managers  that Arsene joined in 1996. He currently only pits wits with SAF and Martin O’Neill.  So seventeen other managers are now no longer involved in a managerial capacity.

Once again I just think it shows that Arsenal and Arsene are getting the balance right between running a top flight club in the EPL and sustaining longevity and stability which is paramount to EPL survival and more importantly pushing for those coveted few trophies.

Long may it continue.

On a side note. When Arsene took over there were seventeen(17) British managers. Plus one Irishman, one Dutchman and Arsene managing the EPL.

Today it stands at:

Twelve (12) British. One Irish, Two Italians, One Portuguese, One Dutch, One Danish, One Spanish and that French fellow.

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