Considering Arsene Wenger is one of the longest-serving and most successful managers in English football, it is always a hot topic of conversation as to who will one day succeed the Frenchman as Arsenal boss.
However, instead of looking around Europe for a high-profile tactician, Wenger believes the Gunners would be better served by looking within the club at some of his former players.
“All the players I had of that generation can be managers,” Wenger said. “That’s not down to me, but why not?”
Of his former players to have taken the route into coaching, Steve Bould was named Wenger’s assistant manager in May of this year, and the ex-Gunners defender has drawn a huge amount of plaudits for the team’s defensive solidarity.
Bould has been a part of the Arsenal coaching setup since 2001 and led the club’s Under-18 Academy side to back-to-back Premier Academy League titles in 2009 and 2010, as well as the FA Youth Cup in 2009.
And Wenger believes that Bould has all the attributes to make the step up from assistant to No1 when it is time for him to call it a day.
“You see people when they have to make the decisions,” Wenger added. “I have seen many strong personalities before and once you feel under pressure to make the decisions, you discover always the real personality of people – when they have the job.
“But of course, one day, why not? I think he has the qualities.”
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has also backed Bould to become the next Gunners boss.
The Frenchman, who is head of youth development at Manchester City, believes it would be “really good for Arsenal” if Bould, who he played alongside at Highbury for three years, were to one day be in charge of his former club.
“I’m not surprised [to see Bould linked with the Arsenal manager’s job],” Vieira said.
“Steve’s been with the youth team at Arsenal for a long time and I know how dedicated he is.
“He loves being a coach and would be the perfect successor to Arsene Wenger. He knows the club and young players better than anyone else and he’s got this passion and desire to be a manger.
“It would be really good for Arsenal.”
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