Arsene Wenger: Ex-Arsenal boss’ new role explained by the man himself

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has outlined his responsibilities as Fifa’s new chief of global football development.
The Frenchman has been without a job since leaving Arsenal in 2018 and has been filling his time with punditry work.
Wenger’s new role at Fifa: Five things to know…
- Wenger ended a 22-year tenure at Arsenal in 2018 after winning three league titles and seven FA Cups.
- He was linked with the vacant Bayern Munich managers job recently.
- But he’s since become Fifa’s chief of global football development.
- Wenger says his key responsibilities will be to improve the efficiency of coaching.
- The 70-year-old will also help develop men’s and women’s football around the world.
But despite being linked with the vacant Bayern Munich job, the 70-year-old was instead announced into his new role within Fifa’s governing body on Wednesday.
And Wenger says his main responsibilities will be to improve the “efficiency of coaching” and help develop both men’s and women’s football.
“Some of the duties, of course, are to contribute to the development of men’s and women’s football,” he told FIFA.
“You see, that is a very important aspect nowadays, that women’s football, we have seen it recently with the World Cup. It became a global sport all over the world and I believe there is a lot to do.
Arsene Wenger discusses his new job
“I think all over the world, I would like to contribute to the efficiency of coaching, the improvement of coaching. There’s a lot of research to be done and I always felt that Fifa’s headquarters have a huge responsibility in how to make training more efficient.”
Fifa has the game at its very heart, says Wenger
Wenger says he’s looking forward to taking on this “extremely important challenge” and that Fifa has emerged from past controversies to hold the game of football “at its very heart”.
“I very much look forward to taking on this extremely important challenge, not only because I have always been interested in analysing football from a broader perspective but also because Fifa’s mission as world football’s governing body is truly global,” he said.
“I believe that the new Fifa we have seen emerging in recent years has the sport itself at the very heart of its objectives and is determined to develop the game in its many different components. I know I can contribute to this objective and will put all my energy into this.”