Arsene Wenger rejected Manchester United job because he ‘loves’ Arsenal’s values despite being flattered by the interest
Red Devils approached Frenchman as potential successor to Sir Alex Ferguson in 2002 but he was not interested in role
ARSENE WENGER has told how he turned down the Manchester United job 15 years ago, because he loved Arsenal too much.
The Sun exclusively revealed last month how Wenger held secret talks with former United chairman Martin Edwards about succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson as manager.
The Arsenal chief was on the verge of winning another Premier League title and FA Cup Double when talks took place in 2002. But he decided to stay with the Gunners.
Wenger, Gunners boss since 1996, admitted: “I stayed because I was always happy here — more happy than people were happy with me. I love the values of this club and, for me, a club is about values first.
“One day, it would be a good chat to look at the evolution of the two clubs. I always question myself, ‘Yes, of course, Manchester United is attractive but am I happy here?’. The answer was, ‘Yes’.
“I am always very confidential — one day maybe I will get all the contacts I had during my stay at Arsenal and it would make a few chapters. You should ask Martin Edwards about what happened.”
Wenger had two meetings with Edwards about taking on one of the biggest jobs football.
But he stuck with Arsenal, creating the Invincibles and taking the club from Highbury to the Emirates.
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He added: “When you speak about Man United, the evolution in the last 20 years would be very interesting. A lot has changed. But when I came here this club was about values that I love in sport. That is why I am still in the competition.
“When I arrived at Arsenal we were 80 people, today we are 700. Sometimes, I pass somebody inside our club who I know, but most of them I don’t know any more.”
Fergie did a U-turn about retiring when he got wind that United were lining up some high-profile successors.
The Scot went on to lead United to 13 Premier League titles and another Champions League success before walking away in 2013.
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