Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refuses to rule out France job after Gunners exit
Arsene Wenger has suggested he may be open to the possibility of moving into international management when he eventually leaves Arsenal.
After 19 years at the helm in north London Wenger enters the upcoming season in the final year of his contract, and maintains he is yet to decide whether he will sign a new one.
In one of his final press conferences of the season Wenger reacted angrily to suggestions he had already been offered a new three year deal to remain at the Emirates, calling reports to the contrary “an invention” and “absolutely false”.
But when asked whether he might consider returning to his home country to take over the national team, currently managed by Didier Deschamps, Wenger suggested he might be open to the possibility.
Wenger told beIN Sports: "I am getting a bit old now to make long-term plans!
"For the moment I am a club manager; we shall see what happens."
France have come calling for Wenger in the past but, as with Real Madrid, he has not been tempted away from the Emirates.
In 2014 Wenger said: “I have had the opportunity to be France coach several times.
“As the France coach, there are only two interesting things: the World Cup and the Euros. The rest is a little bit of a waste of time.”
ArticleArsene Wenger refuses to rule out France job after Arsenal exitArsenalArsene WengerPremier LeagueEuro 2016France Football TeamThe Arsene Wenger Arsenal Years - In pictures
The Arsene Wenger Arsenal Years - In pictures
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1/21 The Arsene Wenger years...
Getty Images
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2/21 1996/97: Wenger takes over at Highbury
After much speculation Arsenal appoint Wenger, their first manager from outside the UK
Premier League: Third
FA Cup: Fourth Round
Uefa Cup: First RoundStu Forster/Allsport/Getty Images
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3/21 1997/98: Wenger at the double
Arsenal win the double in Wenger’s first season in charge, following their 1971 success
Premier League: Champions
FA Cup: Winners
Uefa Cup: First roundBen Radford/Allsport/Getty Images
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4/21 1998/99: So close but Man United taste glory
Wenger ends the season trophyless after twice being pipped by Alex Ferguson
Premier League: Second
FA Cup: Semi Finals
Champions League: Group stageMatthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
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5/21 1999/00: Off the pace
Arsenal finish well behind Manchester United in the league and fall early in the cups
Premier League: Second
FA Cup: Fourth Round
Champions League: Group stageAdrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
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6/21 2000/01: Cup final heartbreak
Michael Owen strikes late to end their FA Cup dreams but the signing of Robert Pires heralds a bright new era for Arsenal
Premier League: Second
FA Cup: Finalists
Champions League: Quarter finalAdrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
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7/21 2001/02: Double double
Wenger wins his second league and cup double as Arsenal win their last 13 league games
Premier League: Winners
FA Cup: Winners
Champions League: Second group stageShaun Botterill/Getty Images
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8/21 2002/03: Cup no consolation
Man United overhaul Arsenal in a season in which the FA Cup is not enough for this side
Premier League: Second
FA Cup: Winners
Champions League: Second group stageJohn Peters/Manchester United/Getty Images
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9/21 2003/04: Invincibles
Arsenal go unbeaten throughout a league season, the first side to do so since the 1880s
Premier League: Winners
FA Cup: Semi-finals
Champions League: Quarter finalsOdd Anderson/AFP/Getty Images
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10/21 2004/05: End of an era
Arsenal win the FA Cup in Patrick Vieira’s final season as Chelsea emerge as their new rivals
Premier League: Second
FA Cup: Winners
Champions League: Round of 16Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
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11/21 2005/06: Highbury farewell
Arsenal nearly crown their last season at the Emirates with victory in the Champions League but are forced to settle for runners-up to Barcelona and Wenger’s lowest league finish
Premier League: Fourth
FA Cup: Fourth Round
Champions League: FinalistsShaun Botterill/Getty Images
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12/21 2006/07: Hard times ahead
In his final season at the club Thierry Henry led a youthful side to a creditable fourth place but the gap to Chelsea and Manchester United seemed to be growing
Premier League: Fourth
FA Cup: Fifth Round
League Cup: Finalists
Champions League: Round of 16Clive Mason/Getty Images
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13/21 2007/08: Injuries cost the Gunners
A horrifying leg break for Eduardo against Birmingham in February curtailed a season that had seen Arsenal challenge for the title
Premier League: Third
FA Cup: Fifth Round
Champions League: Quarter finalsAdrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
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14/21 2008/09: Spending big again
Samir Nasri and Andrey Arshavin arrived in big money deals but a poor start left Arsenal well off the pace domestically
Premier League: Fourth
FA Cup: Semi finals
Champions League: Semi finalsAlex Livesey/Getty Images
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15/21 2009/10: Progress stalled
An impressive squad was hampered by the injuries to the likes of Robin van Persie, Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas as success continued to elude Wenger
Premier League: Third
FA Cup: Fourth Round
Champions League: Quarter finalsAdrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
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16/21 2010/11: Birmingham Blues
Six years without a trophy became seventh as a calamitous mix-up between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny saw Birmingham win the League Cup final
Premier League: Fourth
FA Cup: Sixth Round
League Cup: Finalists
Champions League: Round of 16Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
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17/21 2011/12: Van The Man
Robin van Persie provides excitement on his way to 37 goals and the Golden Boot before departing for Manchester United in the summer.
Premier League: Third
FA Cup: Fifth Round
Champions League: Round of 16David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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18/21 2012/13: Earning their Spurs
Arsenal hauled in their local rivals, cutting a seven point game in 10 games, to secure their customary Champions League spot
Premier League: Fourth
FA Cup: Fifth Round
Champions League: Round of 16Ian MacNicol/AFP/Getty Images
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19/21 2013/14: World-class talent brings trophies back
The arrival of Mesut Ozil brought excitement to the Emirates and a season that saw Arsenal mount a major title challenge ended with an FA Cup trophy
Premier League: Fourth
FA Cup: Winners
Champions League: Round of 16Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
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20/21 2014/15: Further progress on and off the pitch
Alexis Sanchez added more world class talent but Arsenal were once more forced to settle for cup and not league success
Premier League: Third
FA Cup: Winners
Champions League: Round of 16David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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21/21 2015/16: By a nose
Arsenal disappointed in the title race as Leicester held their nerve for a stunning triumph, but there was late joy for the Gunners as they celebrated St Totteringham's Day due to Spurs' late collapse.
Premier League: Second
FA Cup: Fifth Round
Champions League: Round of 16David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images