Arsene Wenger to Make Return to Football Management for First Time Since 2018
- Arsene Wenger will be in the dug-out for a one-off match in January 2022 during the Riyadh Season Cup
- The Frenchman will be in charge of a Saudi Arabian super team that will take on Mauricio Pochettino's PSG
- Wenger has not been on the touchline for three years now since ending his 22-year reign with Arsenal
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Legendary French tactician Arsene Wenger is set for an emotional return to football management for the first time since 2018.
Wenger has not coached any other side since leaving his role at Arsenal three years ago.
Daily Mail now reports the 71-year-old is in line to return to the dugout in January 2022 when he takes charge of a Saudi Arabian super team.
Source: Getty Images
According to the publication, Wenger will coach the team when they take on Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain in the 2022 Riyadh Season Cup.
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The Saudi team will feature players from two of the Kingdom's biggest clubs including Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.
The clash will see Wenger lock horns with Mauricio Pochettino for the special one-off match.
The Frenchman's imminent return to management was confirmed by the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, Turki al-Sheikh. Turki wrote via Football.London:
"The great international coach Arsene Wenger was signed to lead the stars of al-Hilal and al-Nasr against Paris Saint-Germain in the Riyadh Season Cup."
It is understood the friendly tie is part of Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Season which will kick off this October.
The tournament will also see Barcelona face off against Argentina's Boca Juniors for the Maradona Cup later in November 2021 in honour of the Argentine legend.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear if Wenger's decision to take charge of the Saudi team is part of a wider plot to prepare a potential return to football management.
The legendary Arsenal boss is currently working as FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development and has been recently linked with several returns to the touchline.
Ex-Chelsea star Demba Ba announces retirement
Legit.ng earlier reported that former Newcastle United, Chelsea and West Ham striker Demba Ba has announced his retirement from football, aged 36.
His move came barely two months after he shockingly terminated his contract with Swiss club Lugano after 48 minutes of action.
At the time, Swiss broadcaster RSI reported that Ba was suddenly interested in a move back to Paris, the city where he was born and bred, after Lugano changed ownership with American billionaire Joe Mansueto - owner of Chicago Fire FC - taking charge at the club.
Source: Legit.ng
Babajide Orevba (Sports Editor) Babajide Orevba is a CAF-accredited Nigerian journalist, digital publishing expert, researcher, writer and TV analyst. He has covered several major football tournaments including FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, AFCON, CAF Competitions as well as grassroots competitions within Nigeria. Email: babajide.orevba@corp.legit.ng
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