Arsene Wenger: The Unauthorised Biography of Le Professeur

by Tom Oldfield

Fully up-to-date, this biography tells the story of one of world soccer's leading masterminds, and what might be next for the club legend once his Arsenal days draw to a close

Few can match the tremendous impact that Arsene Wenger has had since his arrival at Arsenal in 1996. After over 1,000 games with the club, the world-class Frenchman has developed the Gunners into a team capable of challenging for top domestic and European honors every year. His three Premiership titles are evidence of Wenger's unique tactical skill and his famous ability to spot talented young soccer players, while the 2014 FA Cup win silenced those who began to doubt his cerebral approach to management in a season dominated by bitter historical rivalries. The phenomenal Gunners boss, nicknamed "Le Professeur," is one of the most respected managers in English soccer.

Genres: Sports, Football, Biography

422 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Sudhir Pai · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You either die a hero or live long enough to become a villian"- Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight

Any Arsenal fan who's followed Wenger's career at the Emirates (or Highbury before that) might be tempted to attribute it to 'Le Professeur'.

I must admit, being a closet-fan of the club since 2004, I was drawn to the use of the word 'Unauthorised' in the title. This book would finally answer all that I've wanted to know about the man at the club's helm for over 20 seasons, I assumed. After finishing this book, I was left disappointed. It fails to provide any insight into the life of the man whose leadership has fascinated or frustrated fans in equal measure. It could at best be described as a well-written recap of Wenger's managerial career at Monaco, Japan and of course, Arsenal.

But much like Arsenal's football under Wenger, the book has more than its share of moments without being an outright winner. It covers Arsene's managerial career comprehensively, discussing the cause and effect of every single match from the time he took over the reins at Arsenal in '96-'97, up until his team ended the cursed trophy drought with FA Cup 2014. His glory years at Highbury make for a fascinating read, with a detailed analysis of his bold strategy and tactical genius that rightfully earned him the moniker of 'Le Professeur'. But fans should be forewarned. Reading about the dark years at Emirates are probably as painful and frustrating as being an Arsenal Fan during those trophy-less years.

It's hard to imagine how we'd remember Wenger years from now. Would fans continue to cherish his early years with great fondness, or would several years of #WengerOut tarnish every single shread of legacy the man ought to have left behind? This is a thought every Arsenal fan asks himself every time the team takes the field. Unfortunately, Tom Oldfield's biography of Arsene Wenger cannot help us cope with the existential crisis every Arsenal fan lives with.

[Ger Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a biography as it just goes through every managed in every season. Extremely well researched but can get a bit boring in places when the Author goes through every single game. I'd say Arsenal fans of a certain vintage would certainly enjoy it, but as a non Arsenak fan, probably best to avoidif you're looking for a proper Wenger Biography!

[Stephen Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with many Wenger biographies, the post-Invincibles years are neglected in favour of the earlier years, which is a shame. Forgiveable, as I read it just a few years after it was published. Still a interesting publication at the time of this great man.

[May · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very easy to determine immediately that Arsene Wenger is an extremely private individual because this so-called biography spends more time talking about the results of the matches during a typical EPL year that I was disappointed by the lack of information of who Wenger is. From what I have read on soccer blogs and articles, Wenger is called the "Professor" and lives for soccer He has an excellent relationship with his players and is keen about health, nutrition and the overall fitness levels of his players. More importantly, he is very careful about keeping a steady hand on his club's finances especially when the Emirates Stadium was being built. While the biography do reveal these facts about Wenger, I felt really disappointed that the author chose not to explore Wenger's attributes more closely. I wanted to read about Wenger's leadership and management philosophy, his tumultuous relationships with fellow managers, and what his former and current players really think of him--essentially so I can read and understand why he is a "pure genius" and how he has managed to be the longest serving EPL manager. This book simply made me wish for more analysis and even some conjecture of the part of the author (e.g. what does the author think Wenger will do in the future when he officially retires/resigns from Arsenal?) for the story to be 3 stars.

[Mzola17 · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you see "Unauthorized Biography" you expect to get juicy details about the subject of the bio, but this book offered none of them. It didn't mention he was married or had kids until the final chapter. Hell the author even admitted defeat in the last chapter saying Wenger is very private and little is known about him outside of football. Well ok jerkoff but isn't that your job to find out and report to us!! The book was very solid in giving details about the club during Wenger's reign, but as a biography it was a total joke. Do not attempt to read if you are not an Arsenal fan.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Felt the book was more about a comparison of Arsenal vs Manchester United rather than the life of Arsene Wenger. Then again, there's not much about his personal life that's in the public. I think if you're an Arsenal fan then its a good book to read up on.

[Zahid · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was good