Arsene Wenger was never covered in glory as a player, only making his professional debut as a 28-year-old with Strasbourg after playing most of his career in the semi-pro game with Mulhouse and Vauban.
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| Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (MarkThompson/GettyImages) |
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It would be as a coach that Wenger would make his name, starting off as Strasbourg's youth coach in 1981. With a growing reputation as a man with an astute footballing mind, he moved to Cannes in 1983 to be their assistant manager.
Wenger's first move into management came a year later when he accepted a post with Nancy Lorraine. Although he failed to save the club from relegation in his first year in charge, the club kept faith.
The big break would come in 1987 as Monaco moved to make him their top man. Within a year Wenger won the French championship and was named Manager of the Year.
Several years of success would follow at the Stade Louis II stadium, including victory in the French Cup and defeat to Werder Bremen in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup.
In 1994, Wenger turned down the chance to coach the French national team and also Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich to continue with Monaco. Unfortunately for Wenger, Monaco's finish of ninth that season was not below par and he was dismissed.
It was then that Wenger's love affair with the Japanese game began. A year after leaving Monaco he was named coach of Nagoya Grampus Eight in what was still the fledgling J-League.
Wenger's managerial acumen transformed the club's fortunes and saw them climb from the bottom three to runners-up spot in just one year. He would win the Super Cup before the chance to coach in the Premiership came along.
Wenger was something of an unknown quantity in England as he arrived as Bruce Rioch's replacement in September 1996. It was clear that the deal had been in the pipeline for some time, as Wenger had insisted that Patrick Vieira and Remi Garde were bought before he put pen to paper - the duo had been signed a month earlier.
Arsenal would win the Double in his first full season in charge, 1997/98, which prompted Wenger to sign a new three-and-a-half year contract. For the following three seasons, however, the Gunners would be known as the bridesmaids and never the bride.
Wenger has built up a reputation as a great thinker, as well as a shrewd operator in the transfer market. Although some may question his eyesight - he never seems to see an incident involving one of his own players.
The main criticism of Wenger's tenure in north London has been the club's terrible disciplinary record. Countless cards have been dished out to the Gunners, with Wenger claiming that referees have a hidden agenda against his club.
He was charged with 'threatening behaviour and physical intimidation' to fourth official Paul Taylor on the opening day of the 2000/01 season and was handed a 12-match touchline ban and a fine by the Football Association - which was overturned on appeal.
Speculation began to grow over Wenger's future at Arsenal, with a return to Japan one of his rumoured destinations. The manager was said to be disillusioned with proposed changes to the transfer market, but signed a new four-year contract in December 2000.
Wenger would bring the Double back to Highbury in 2002, and many pundits believe his brand of exciting attacking football could lead to an era of domination for Arsenal. Now considered one of the best coaches ever to grace the English game.
European success has eluded Wenger during his time at Highbury, bar losing out to Galasataray in the UEFA Cup final of 2000. It is success in the Champions League that Wenger now craves most, having reached the knock-out stages of the competition on only one occasion.
However, Wenger came in for much criticism afer Arsenal failed to win the Premiership in 2003. Early season boasts that his side could go unbeaten proved fatally floored as they ran out of steam and Manchester United regained their crown.
The loss of the championship was offset by a 1-0 victory over Southampton in the FA Cup - the club's third successive appearance in the final.
Wenger was awarded an honorary OBE (Officer in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's Birthday honours list in June 2003, for his 'outstanding contribution to British football'.
Arsenal regained the Premiership crown in 2003/04 - in oustanding fashion. They went the entire season undefeated, the first club to achieve the feat since Preston in the 1800's. As Wenger stated, it left his Arsenal 'immortal'.
However, defeat in the Champions League quarter-finals to Chelsea meant question marks remain over their European performance.
And three games into the 2004/05 season, Wenger's side eclipsed Nottingham Forest's unbeaten run, with the 3-0 home win over Blackburn making it 43 games without defeat.
The Frenchman's talent for picking up top talent from the continent was against in evidence as Francesc Fabregas, only 17, was one of the stars of the side. He was picked up from Barcelona's youth side in the summer of 2003 - and looks to be a star in the making.
