7 things we can learn from Arsene Wenger
After 22 years, Arsene Wenger, yesterday, left Arsenal Football Club. In this time, he has achieved what most managers in sport can only dream of. There’s plenty to learn from the man known as Le Professeur.
1. People matter
In Tony Adams, the world saw an old washed-up alcoholic near the end of his career. Arsene Wenger saw a leader. He got Tony Adams to clean up his act and lead Arsenal to 2 premier league titles and 3 FA Cups over the next 6 years.
This philosophy of seeing the best in people wasn’t limited to the football field as Henry Winter mentions here:
2. Handle criticism with grace
Imagine dealing with a difficult boss. Now imagine a million people asking for you to be fired. After a successful first 10 years, the next 10 were a steady downfall. The fans that held “In Arsene We Trust” banners were now calling for his head with “Wenger Out” banners, including one flown over the stadium on a plane.
If Wenger can work in such a hostile environment for years, while keeping calm and still succeed, so can you. You probably can’t because there’s only One Arsene Wenger.
Source: http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/PA-7754888.jpg
3. Criticize in private. Praise in public
This is one of the most common management adages out there but no one follows it as well as Wenger has. He became notorious for using “I did not see it” when asked about fouls committed by his players. It was a strategy to avoid criticizing his players and it worked.
When Ozil was criticized for his casual attitude, Wenger said, “If you’re not excited about watching Mesut Ozil, you don’t love football.”
4. Sometimes the simplest things can stump the best
Wenger is a genius. No doubt about it. But for the love of god, he cannot get the zipper on his coat to work. There are literally hundreds of videos of him on the internet trying to zip up like this:
This is a 60-year old man, respected the world over, who never learned to zip up his coat. You can be stupid in public. It’s OK. :D
5. Fitness gives you an edge
In 1996, no one in English football had heard of nutrition or so it seemed with the crazy partying culture.
Over the next few years, Wenger’s teams were able to outperform everyone with ease. The free-flowing beautiful football was rooted in discipline in all walks of life, especially in their diet.
Of course the edge didn’t last long as now all clubs in football employs the best nutritionists. Wenger had revolutionized not just Arsenal football club but all of English football.
6. Money is not everything
After 2004, the amount of money flowing into football increased exponentially. At this time Arsenal went the other way and chose to invest in a new stadium. That meant austerity in transfers, selling the best players to richer rivals and inability to compete on a level playing field. Despite the limitations, Wenger was able to compete at the highest level and at times punch above his weight at times.
7. Be humble in victory
“One of the things I discovered in Japan was from watching sumo wrestling. At the end you can never tell who has won the fight, and who has lost, because they do not show their emotion because it could embarrass the loser. It is unbelievable. That is why I try to teach my team politeness. It is only here in England that everybody pokes their tongue out when they win.”
- Arsene Wenger
