Wenger: I’m ‘scared’ of retiring, unlike Sir Alex

Matt Stead

Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is “scared” of retiring as manager of Arsenal.

Wenger is entering the final year of his current contract at the Emirates Stadium, and his future has come under increasing scrutiny in recent times.

Many feel the club has outgrown the Frenchman, who has only two FA Cups to show in terms of silverware over the past decade.

Arsenal’s last Premier League title win came in 2004, and the 66-year-old, who has been manager of the Gunners at least 16 years longer than any other current top-flight boss, could soon step away from his post.

But he admits that, after almost two decades as manager, he is fearful of the day he finally leaves.

“It’s been my life and, honestly, I’m quite scared of the day,” Wenger told The Guardian. “The longer I wait, the more difficult it will be and the more difficult it will be to lose the addiction.

“After Alex retired and we played them over there [at Manchester United] he sent a message to me to come up and have a drink with him. I asked: ‘Do you miss it?’ He said: ‘Not at all.’ I didn’t understand that. It’s an emptiness in your life, especially when you’ve lived your whole life waiting for the next game and trying to win it.”