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Topics: Arsenal, Jack Wilshere, Football, Premier League
Marcus Chan
Jack Wilshere is in line for a surprise return to Arsenal this summer, though not as a player but as a youth team coach.
The club are in the middle of a major shake up of their academy set up after both Kevin Betsy and Dan Micciche left the club, they were in charge of the Under 23s and Under 18s respectively. The pair went to Crawley Town to replace John Yems after allegations of racial abuse.
The Gunners have now started their search for the replacements for Betsy and Micciche, with academy manager Per Mertesacker holding talks with a number of candidates. According to the Evening Standard, one of the names in line for the job is former player Wishere.
At just 30-years-old, it would be a surprise change of career path for Wilshere, who last played for Danish club Aarhus but his contract expired this summer. There is an option for one more year but to date, that option hasn’t been taken yet.
The former England international is believed to want to carry on playing but has said he would be open to get into coaching in the future. Wilshere joined Arsenal at the age of eight and came through the ranks at the club’s academy, Hale End.
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After all the years spent at the club and with the academy, Wilshere will know the set up better than most. He was often regarded as one of the best talents to come through at Arsenal in recent years. He had huge potential and talent, but unfortunately injuries got in his way, he eventually left the club in 2018 after 17 years.
Arsenal are said to be considering internal candidates for the vacancies with several staff members held in high regard at the club. Wilshere does have a good relationship with manager Mikel Arteta, the former player returned to the club last year to maintain his fitness.
In a recent interview, Wilshere spoke about his career and his wish to become a coach one day.
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He said: “I didn’t ever reach my full potential as a player — and everyone knows that.”
“I don’t think I will ever accept it until I’ve reached that as a coach. It’s a difficult thing to accept and that’s why I still have a big, burning desire in me to be successful in the game.”
Wilshere added: “I just feel like there’s something still in me that wants to get to a high level. And that probably won’t ever be as a player again. So if I can do that as a coach, why not?”