Arsene Wenger to manage at World Cup 2022? ‘I could see myself working for a team,’ says ex-Arsenal boss

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested he wants to be in charge of a nation at the World Cup in 2022.

Wenger left Arsenal at the end of the 2017/18 season after 22 years in north London and is now ready to return to management on the international stage.

When will Wenger return to management? Five key things to know…

• Wenger ended his 22-year association with Arsenal last summer.
• The 69-year-old says he has turned down “some nice offers” since then.
• But he has mostly been enjoying jobs in punditry.
• The ex-Arsenal boss now says he may return to the dugout at the 2022 World Cup.
• Regardless of whether that happens, Wenger plans to coach again before his career ends.

The Frenchman has been out of work since departing the Gunners, with whom he won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.

And having never made the move into international football, Wenger has refused to rule out a return to the dugout in Qatar in three years time.

“I could see myself working for a team [at the World Cup],” he said.

“I will have enough time (and) distance with my last job (to give me perspective), and I would not be against that.

“I must say I always wanted to go to the World Cup (finals) because I felt it is the job of a manager to be where the best football players in the world play football.

“Hopefully, you will see me, touch wood in Qatar in three years’ time.”

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‘You will see me in the dugout again’

Regardless of whether he attends the 2022 World Cup as a coach, Wenger believes he will return to management before his time in football comes to an end.

And the 69-year-old says the intensity of the job is something that still appeals to him.

He added: “You will see me in a dugout again, when, I don’t know exactly.

“I still cannot live with the fact that I will never be on the bench again. I might go for an intermediate position.

“What I want for sure is to share what I know, and what I have learnt as much as I can in the game.

“I would like to experience one more time the intensity of the competition.”