Jack Wilshere working on Uefa coaching badges with Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker

Mertesacker and Wilshere have been working on their coaching qualifications
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
James Benge23 October 2017

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has revealed that he is working on his coaching badges as he already begins to consider a career after his retires.

The 25-year-old began work on his Uefa B badge, which allows holders to be head coaches at amateur teams and youth sides up to age 16, whilst on loan at Bournemouth and plans to work towards the A licence afterwards.

Wilshere, out of contract in the summer, is not likely to need his licences for the time being having made an impressive return to the Arsenal side.

“Last year when I was at Bournemouth, because they’re not in Europe and didn’t have a midweek game, it seemed like an opportunity [to start on my badges],” Wilshere said.

“A few of the lads were talking about doing their Level Two [coaching badge] and I thought, I’m going to jump on it.

“I really enjoyed it, while I’m fit and playing and healthy I might not need it, but even if I’ve got another ten years left in me I don’t want to be at the end of my career and maybe have a year out and be thinking, what do I want to do…and then have to go through Level Two, Uefa B, Uefa A.

“I’m doing my Uefa B at the minute. Luckily I’ve got great facilities here at Arsenal, great players and the PFA and the FA have been great and really helpful. I’m going to complete that and then see what I want to do.”

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Wilshere is not the only Arsenal star with ambitions to make it as a coach, with Mertesacker due to take up the role of academy chief at Hale End when he retires at the end of this season.

It was an appointment that appeared to have come out of the blue last summer but appears well-suited to Mertesacker, who is widely respected in the Arsenal dressing room. Wilshere is far from the only team-mate convinced the club captain will be a success in his forthcoming role.

“I think Per’s going to be great at that job [Arsenal Academy director],” he said. “He might need an assistant one day, you never know!

“He’s got that character, he’s a great captain even though he’s not playing [consistently]. He’s the most positive, he wants the team to do well and he’s a great example to young players.

“If you’re under-13 or under-14 coming through at Hale End he’s someone to look up to. I’m sure he’ll pass his knowledge on to them.”

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Mertesacker told the Arsenal Weekly Podcast of his work with Wilshere: “I asked him if he wanted to join me and develop the coach skills and to start from the bottom basically. He was up for it, happy to do a bit extra to get going.

“I’m quite happy that we’re doing it together so that I’m not on my own and we can share some information and work. Hopefully we can start with our B licence and improve from there.”