12 Arsene Wenger

Wenger's career began with Nancy in France, whom he led to relegation from the top division before becoming Monaco manager. At Monaco, he gained a reputation as a great coach and judge of player, signing the likes of Glenn Hoddle, Jurgen Klinsmann, George Weah and Youri Djorkaeff. He won the French league in his first season and later the French cup before being coveted by Bayern Munich; he was not allowed to join Bayern by the board and later had a successful stint in charge of Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan, guiding them to victory in the emperor's cup and second place in the league. Wenger then became manager of Arsenal, a position he has held for 13 years. In that time, Wenger has become Arsenal's most successful manager of all-time and developed a reputation for quick-passing football in the fashion of Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest, whom Wenger cites as an early managerial inspiration in his life. He has also shown an aptitude for developing young players and helping older players realise their potential, though critics would say he has focussed excessively on foreign - rather than British - youngsters. In his Arsenal career thus far, Wenger has won 3 premiership titles and 4 FA cups including 2 historic doubles. In one of the most mesmerising seasons of football in British history, his 2003/04 side managed to go through an entire football season unbeaten in the top flight - the first time this had happened in the 20th century. He has also been runner up in the champions' league and overseen the development of the stadium, partially funded by his own excellent record of buying players and selling them on at a profit. Despite spending relatively small sums and recouping large amounts of money, Wenger has competed with bigger-spending rivals and shown a real commitment to high quality football. Critics have argued that in recent years the trophies have dried up but Wenger retains faith in the young side he has built up over the past 3-5 seasons. A further league championship or European cup would send Wenger soaring up the rankings but there are those who feel his best period is over and that he is struggling to find the right players to turn Arsenal into title contenders once again, or to win that first elusive European trophy. His more recent teams, while technically accomplished, appear to lack the more physical dimension and leadership of his late 90s side. Nevertheless, he remains Arsenal's greatest manager and one of the most successful managers in British history. Time will tell whether his team of outstanding youngsters are capable of matching the recent dominance of Man. Utd and Chelsea.

British league champions: 3
Foreign league champions: 1
European cup: 0