Since leaving Arsenal in 2018, Wenger is no longer in a coaching role, but his love and contribution to soccer remains undiminished. While attending the centenary celebrations of his old master Monaco, he received an exclusive interview with Team Newspaper, fondly recalling his seven-year coaching career at Monaco.
Talking about how he became the Monaco boss, Wenger said it was due to the good reputation he accumulated while coaching in Cannes, especially the tacit cooperation with assistant coach Jean-Marc Giraud. Faced with the choice between Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, he finally decided to join Monaco because it gave him a sense of wider scope and more possibilities.
At that time, Monaco was not only a symbol of the high end of soccer, but also closely linked to the Principality of Monaco. The presence of the big boss, Prince Rainier III, made Wenger feel like he was coaching a national team. He describes the feeling as being like being at a British royal family or Queen's reception, filled with standards of nobility and prestige.
Prince Rainier III's concern for the team is reflected in the perfect balance found between his presence and non-interference in management. This trust has allowed Wenger to maintain a high degree of freedom in coaching, allowing him to build the team according to his own principles and philosophy.
Arsene Wenger led his team to win the Ligue 1 title in his first season at Monaco, which was undoubtedly a huge achievement in his managerial career. He brought in great players such as Hoddle and Mark Hartley and created brilliance with local stars such as Amoró. He recalls that Monaco soccer at the time was attacking, with a small but demanding fanbase, an atmosphere that drove the team forward.
During his seven years at Monaco, Wenger has not only won titles, but also nurtured a number of outstanding young players. He revealed that the success of Monaco's youth training camp is due to the fact that the club recruits the best young players throughout the whole of France and provides them with a quiet and orderly growth environment. This high-quality youth training system has delivered a large number of talents to Monaco and even French soccer.
Wenger chose to leave Monaco in 1994 with one year left on his contract. He recalled that the team had a poor start to the league that season and he felt that was the right time to leave. Although he left Monaco, the footprints and achievements he left there are still talked about by fans today.
In the exclusive interview, Wenger also mentioned a number of Monaco's famous players and coaches, including players such as Hoddle, Amoró and George Weah, as well as coaches such as Tigana, Pierre and Deschamps. He praised these men for leaving an important chapter in the history of Monaco soccer.
Finally, when asked about his favorite places in Monaco, Wenger mentioned Le Meridien Beach Plaza and the Palace Square. These two places not only have beautiful scenery, but also carry his fond memories of Monaco. Although his work leaves him no time to enjoy these special environments, those days coaching in Monaco are undoubtedly one of the most valuable times in his career.
