By Michael Butterworth
BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Since last week's announcement that Arsene Wenger would be stepping down after 22 years as manager of Arsenal Football Club, there has been much gossip, speculation and conjecture centering on who might succeed the 68-year-old.
Wenger's departure comes with Arsenal having recently added several new backroom staff members who will be key to appointing Frenchman's successor. But who might they pick? Xinhua takes a look at the likely runners and riders.
Carlo Ancelotti
The Italian boasts a proven track record of success, with league championships wins in four different countries, as well as three Champions League titles. Ancelotti also has Premier League experience, having had a two-year spell in charge of local rivals Chelsea, and is currently available after leaving German champions Bayern Munich earlier this year. But while the Ancelotti name would certainly help attract top talent to the Emirates, at 58 he is hardly a long-term option, and also remains a leading candidate for the Italian national team, a post which may prove difficult for him to turn down.
Luis Enrique
Also currently a free agent, Enrique has stated his desire to work in English football and is rumored to be the preferred choice of Arsenal's new Head of Football Relations Raul Sanllehi, with whom the Spaniard worked at Barcelona. However, despite winning a hatful of trophies with the Catalan giants, there remain unanswered questions over Enrique's ultimate managerial ability, and he was accused of tactical inflexibility during his last season at Barcelona. Previous spells at Celta Vigo and Roma were also underwhelming, and it remains to be seen how successful a boss Enrique would be without some of the world's best players at his disposal.
Joachim Loew
The German has been at the helm of his country's national team since 2006, during which he has gained a reputation for attacking and incisive football that saw Germany lift the 2014 FIFA World Cup. But despite his considerable success internationally, Loew has not managed at club level since 2004, and his lack of recent experience or accomplishment in the domestic game may count against him. The German would also be unlikely to leave his current post until after this summer's World Cup, and with the Premier League season starting just one month later, that would leave precious little time for pre-season preparation and player recruitment.
Max Allegri
Another Italian, Allegri's all-conquering Juventus side has won the last three Serie A and Coppa Italia titles. The Italian is rumored to be keen on testing himself in the Premier League, and has notably been taking English lessons over the past couple of years. Known for his tactical flexibility and an ability to successfully adapt his teams to suit different sets of players and circumstances, Allegri has also been linked with a likely vacancy at Chelsea, and it may be that the Italian will find himself managing in London soon, one way or another.
Mikel Arteta
A former Arsenal captain, the Spaniard remains a fan favorite at the Emirates, and since hanging up his boots in 2016 has been learning his trade as assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Arteta has been highly praised for his work at the Etihad, and would be a popular choice to take over from Wenger, who signed him as a player in 2011. However, with no managerial experience, it would be asking an awful lot of the Spaniard to take the reigns at Arsenal this summer. Perhaps one for the future instead.
Diego Simeone
In many ways the complete antithesis of Wenger's managerial style, Simeone's teams are well-drilled and notoriously difficult to beat, traits which have seen his Atletico Madrid side punch well above their weight in recent years to compete as equals with Barcelona and city neighbors Real. The Argentinian has enjoyed a special bond with players and fans at Atletico, but with many of his current charges starting to come to the end of their careers, he may feel that the time is now right to move on. Simeone would doubtless seek to tighten up an Arsenal defense which has proved porous in recent years. The question is whether the current crop of players would be able to adapt effectively to Simeone's pragmatic quasi-catenaccio after they have been schooled in a much more expansive style of play.
And the rest...
Germany's Thomas Tuchel has a reputation as one of the most promising young coaches in the game, though he is thought to be taking over at Paris Saint-Germain. Former Arsenal favorites Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry both remain popular figures at the Emirates, but lack relevant management experience. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has distanced himself from the role, while highly-rated Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann is considered too young. And while Rafa Benitez, Lucien Favre, Eddie Howe and Leonardo Jardim have all proved themselves capable of doing a good job on a budget in recent seasons, none are thought to be in serious contention.
