Ex-Arsenal boss’ Arsene Wenger sues Dutch FA over Dutch takeover to replace Barcelona’s Ronald Koeman
- Arsene Wenger has worked as FIFA’s head of global football development
- That has been his role since his 22-year stay at Arsenal came to an end in 2018
- Dutch boss Ronald Koeman is expected to move to former club Barcelona
- Barcelona sacked Quique Setien following their Champions League defeat
Arsene Wenger has approached the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to succeed Ronald Koeman to Barcelona as manager, according to reports in the Netherlands.
The 70-year-old Frenchman has worked as the head of global football development at FIFA since his 22-year tenure as Arsenal boss ended in May 2018.
Wenger admitted earlier this month that more than two years after leaving the Gunners, he would not rule out a return to management.
Report claims that Arsene Wenger approached the Dutch FA to succeed Ronald Koeman
Wenger is the head of FIFA’s global football development team after leaving Arsenal in May 2018
And Fox Sports presenter Jan Joost van Gangelen reports that Wenger has immediately put himself forward as a candidate to save Koeman as boss of Holland.
The 57-year-old Dutchman is expected to take over the giant at former club Barcelona after they sacked Quique Setien on Monday following their Champions League humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich.
The former boss of Everton and Southampton successfully led his country to next summer’s European Championships, as well as victory in the UEFA Nations League.
But Fox Sports claims he has offered his services to the Dutch FA to replace Koeman
The current Holland boss is expected to join former club Barcelona in the coming days
But he now appears set to turn his back on them, with the lures of management of the Catalan giants a too supportive statement to reject.
However, the domino effect appears to have Wenger – who has won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups at Arsenal – back in the manager window.
If his proposal is accepted by the Dutch FA, Wenger would take the lead over their Euro 2021 campaign in place of Koeman, where his new side could rise against his native France or even England.
The Catalan giants picked up Quique Setien on Monday after their humiliation of the Champions League
Speaking about the possibility of returning to management just this month, Wenger, 70, told Europa 1: ‘Every day I want to train, I have done this my whole life.
‘I’m 70 years old, I gave a lot. Should I play Russian roulette a bit, even when it comes to my health? I can not do things about halfway, so I ask myself this question.
‘It will be in circumstances that I consider optimal. Otherwise I will not do it. ‘
Reports in France earlier this week even claimed that Wenger had turned down an offer to take over Barcelona himself as a replacement for Setien, but a role in international football could be more to his liking.
Wenger won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during his time as Gunners boss
Wenger admitted earlier this month that he would not yet rule out a ruling for management
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