Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira: Arsene Wenger never guided me into a managerial career

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James Benge1 November 2016

Patrick Vieira has said he is disappointed that Arsene Wenger failed to guide him and other former Arsenal players into a career in management.

Vieira, one of Arsenal’s greatest ever players and captain of their legendary Invincible team, has begun his career at Major League Soccer side New York City FC, a part of the City Football Group that also owns Manchester City, the club where the French international ended his playing career.

The 40-year-old has already made an immediate impact in MLS, guiding his New York City side to second place in the Eastern Conference and a spot in the playoffs. But Vieira insisted Wenger does not deserve any of the credit for his move into management, adding that he had received no guidance from his manager between 1996 and 2005.

“I'm not saying Arsene didn’t give me the desire to manage. He might have done so without me realising but he never guided me, never showed me the way,” Vieira told France Football.

“Maybe Arsene wanted his former players to do it on their own. I find that a bit of a shame because all those who left Arsenal and who are managers always got on well with him.”

This summer saw Thierry Henry depart his coaching role with the Arsenal youth sides after refusing to end his multi-million pound contract to serve as an analyst with Sky, whilst four-time title winning captain Tony Adams declined the opportunity to join Wenger’s staff.

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Freddie Ljungberg has since started work with the Under-16 side whilst Robert Pires and Ray Parlour are regular presences at London Colney, albeit in a non-coaching capacity. But Vieira is disappointed that his former side have not done more to integrate former players eager to make their mark in the coaching world.

“It's a bit sad to not see old players in Arsenal's staff and I'm not talking about the first team,” Vieira added. “There's only Freddie Ljungberg.

“They love the club. After that, it’s not because we played at Arsenal that we deserve to be manager. All is earned but the desire is there.”

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