Written by Football is such a popular and traditional sport in English culture and has one of the most viewed exciting leagues in the world with the Premier league which has embedded a way of culture how the game should be played. However, this all was to change when Arsene Wenger was appointed Arsenal manger in 1996 and come from France with a different perspective on the way the English game should be played.
The Frenchman come to England with his own perspective on football culture and how he wanted the club to be run and how footballers should change their lifestyle. Wenger relied on science rather than tradition when it came to getting his players into the best physical shape possible this was a philosophy and culture the Frenchman embedded into English football and later many followed. Many senior players such as Nigel Winterburn described it as “It was sharp, it was energetic, it was different “and this was the first of many changes to the English footballing Culture Wenger made. At the start of Wenger’s take over his training methods and philosophy was questioned heavily by not just the media but also his players and those at the club.
At the beginning of his reign Wenger still had the media to convince and the players that his philosophy was, and new culture changes was the right way for football to be operated in. The physiology side of the game, the social side, training – he came in and ripped up the handbook of the traditional English game. The advancements in terms of science and facilities and all the support available for elite athletes in today’s game is testament to him. Wenger not only had the confidence to come to a new country and believe in his philosophy on the game but also was knowledgeable enough to go through with it. This new philosophy that come to include and cultural shock has been used time and time again and is a catalyst in the way the English game is played today. This change that has brought in helped many of his senior players prolong their careers due to the dietary changes and the training method which allowed them to continue playing the game they love.
The legacy Arsene Wenger has left just not for Arsenal, but all English football will be talked about for years and how he was at the forefront for change of the traditional English game and his cultural differences within the game has benefited English football. The way the English game is played today and how many clubs are run he was revolutionary to all this and more. Although he had great success on the pitch and created many beautiful moments for all football fans. It’s the changes he made of the pitch was a testament and key in why we all love the game today.
Wenger was revolutionary, intelligent, Legendary, and loved by all this is why his legacy will be talked about for years and years.