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Former Arsenal player Arsene Wenger has reiterated his reasons for turning down the Manchester United manager position, saying he had a “true love affair” with the north London club.
United approached Wenger in 2001 after Sir Alex Ferguson announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2001-02 season, but the Frenchman’s dedication to Arsenal caused him to decline.
“Never city [approached me], United yes, I can’t tell you exactly when! (It was in 2001), ”Wenger told FourFourTwo. “(I said) No, because I was at Arsenal. You know, I had a real love affair with Arsenal. My life is red and white. When I arrived at the club, I felt that there was a special charm within it.
“It was a good mix between respect for tradition, respect for people and not being afraid to face unpopular judgments at times.”
Ferguson took a 180-degree turn after his decision to leave United and ended up in charge until 2013. United have not won the Premier League since he left.
Wenger finally left Arsenal in 2018 after 14 years without winning a Premier League title and was replaced by Unai Emery, who was in turn fired by Mikel Arteta within 18 months of his reign.
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