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My Life in Red and White
For the very first time, world-renowned and revolutionary football manager Arsène Wenger tells his own story. He opens up about his life, sharing principles for success on and off the field with lessons on leadership, and vivid tales of his 22 years managing Arsenal to unprecedented success.
There, Wenger won multiple Premier League championships and a record number of FA C ups, and his teams included the Invincibles of 2003-2004 and a record-breaking undefeated 49-match run. He popularised an attacking approach and belief that the game should be entertaining but he also changed the attitudes of British football fans towards players' diet, fitness and coaching methods - and towards foreign managers too.
In My Life in Red and White, Wenger charts his extraordinary career, including his rise in France and Japan where he managed Nancy, Monaco and Nagoya Grampus Eight (clubs that also play in red-and-white, like Arsenal!) to his 22 years at the helm of an internationally renowned club from 1996 onwards. He describes the unrest that led to his resignation in 2018, and his current role as Chief of Global Football Development for FIFA.
He offers studious reflections on the game and his groundbreaking approach to motivation, mindset, fitness and football that was often beautiful to watch. This book is a must-read for not only Arsenal fans but football fans everywhere, for management and business leaders, and anyone seeking the tools for success in work and life. It will illuminate the mystique surrounding one of the most revered and successful manager's life story, strategy and vision in the world's most popular sport.
There, Wenger won multiple Premier League championships and a record number of FA C ups, and his teams included the Invincibles of 2003-2004 and a record-breaking undefeated 49-match run. He popularised an attacking approach and belief that the game should be entertaining but he also changed the attitudes of British football fans towards players' diet, fitness and coaching methods - and towards foreign managers too.
In My Life in Red and White, Wenger charts his extraordinary career, including his rise in France and Japan where he managed Nancy, Monaco and Nagoya Grampus Eight (clubs that also play in red-and-white, like Arsenal!) to his 22 years at the helm of an internationally renowned club from 1996 onwards. He describes the unrest that led to his resignation in 2018, and his current role as Chief of Global Football Development for FIFA.
He offers studious reflections on the game and his groundbreaking approach to motivation, mindset, fitness and football that was often beautiful to watch. This book is a must-read for not only Arsenal fans but football fans everywhere, for management and business leaders, and anyone seeking the tools for success in work and life. It will illuminate the mystique surrounding one of the most revered and successful manager's life story, strategy and vision in the world's most popular sport.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2020
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February 4, 2021
Arsenal
As a life-long enthusiastic Arsenal supporter (God help me), this was a book I was always going to buy - well get as a Christmas gift. The overall feeling is that to a large extent it was missing so much. Arsene Wenger was such an innovative coach who looked holistically at players development, the cohesion of the team and the structures within the club itself. So why were the details of that creative thinking missing? Unless it wasn't as creative or innovative as I imagined. I appreciated watching Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger just how important the manager was to a club, how they instilled the culture, the belief and all the science and training that helped develop players. I would love to have learned how they achieved that and what their secret sauce looked like.
The interesting aspect of the title is that Arsene Wenger's career has been with football teams that played in Red and White as home colours. It is interesting to understand the journey he was on and how complete he was in his commitment to the job and the details, even inspecting the grass on the pitch on a daily basis and discussing its improvement daily with the groundsman. He truly committed his life to football and I am proud that he managed my team.
Chronologically his career is laid out culminating with Arsenal where he led the team for twenty-two years. The impact of Wenger on Arsenal is immeasurable and probably because of the nature of modern-day football commercialisation, will never be replicated. At Arsenal he had total control, he developed some of the best football players the English Premiership/ Europe ever witnessed, he achieved an unbeaten season with a team of INVINCIBLES - love saying that. He was instrumental in the building of a new stadium and advanced football style, medical treatment and diet to new levels. I loved Arsene Wenger and I remember watching an interview with him many years ago when success was regularly achieved, him saying that he would know when it would be time to leave Arsenal. Unfortunately, what tarnished his reputation was that he did not.
In terms of the book, it was a well-structured journey through his early days which were very interesting, to be a footballer and then a coach and manager, and also included an encyclopaedic section listing all his achievements at the end. What I had hoped for was more of the thinking and rationale behind some of the major events, his emotions, how he dealt with those around him and of course some juicy inside information. The autobiography fell short on that front and more rambled through the obvious elements and people he knew and met. For someone who was very articulate in speaking that didn't come across in his writing. I still think every Arsenal fan needs to read this book and I'll keep in on my shelf as a sign of support rather than a great piece of writing.
As a life-long enthusiastic Arsenal supporter (God help me), this was a book I was always going to buy - well get as a Christmas gift. The overall feeling is that to a large extent it was missing so much. Arsene Wenger was such an innovative coach who looked holistically at players development, the cohesion of the team and the structures within the club itself. So why were the details of that creative thinking missing? Unless it wasn't as creative or innovative as I imagined. I appreciated watching Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger just how important the manager was to a club, how they instilled the culture, the belief and all the science and training that helped develop players. I would love to have learned how they achieved that and what their secret sauce looked like.
The interesting aspect of the title is that Arsene Wenger's career has been with football teams that played in Red and White as home colours. It is interesting to understand the journey he was on and how complete he was in his commitment to the job and the details, even inspecting the grass on the pitch on a daily basis and discussing its improvement daily with the groundsman. He truly committed his life to football and I am proud that he managed my team.
Chronologically his career is laid out culminating with Arsenal where he led the team for twenty-two years. The impact of Wenger on Arsenal is immeasurable and probably because of the nature of modern-day football commercialisation, will never be replicated. At Arsenal he had total control, he developed some of the best football players the English Premiership/ Europe ever witnessed, he achieved an unbeaten season with a team of INVINCIBLES - love saying that. He was instrumental in the building of a new stadium and advanced football style, medical treatment and diet to new levels. I loved Arsene Wenger and I remember watching an interview with him many years ago when success was regularly achieved, him saying that he would know when it would be time to leave Arsenal. Unfortunately, what tarnished his reputation was that he did not.
In terms of the book, it was a well-structured journey through his early days which were very interesting, to be a footballer and then a coach and manager, and also included an encyclopaedic section listing all his achievements at the end. What I had hoped for was more of the thinking and rationale behind some of the major events, his emotions, how he dealt with those around him and of course some juicy inside information. The autobiography fell short on that front and more rambled through the obvious elements and people he knew and met. For someone who was very articulate in speaking that didn't come across in his writing. I still think every Arsenal fan needs to read this book and I'll keep in on my shelf as a sign of support rather than a great piece of writing.
October 18, 2020
There are 320 pages here. 320 sparsely populated pages, with narrow columns bookended by thick margins.
Of those, the final 59 pages form a section named Career Record - a dry recitation of season stats and other statistical miscellanea.
261 pages then. All bereft of the charm, humour, incisiveness and vision that brought Wenger to global esteem in the first place. All written in a blocky style I've attempted to match in this review. The book's translaters, Daniel Hahn and Andrea Reece, are eminent translaters. Wenger himself is a respected wordsmith polyglot. So I've no idea how we end up with such tedious, brick prose. Think I'm kidding? Nullius in verba:
Such lego sentences. And beyond that, what did you like about Viera? How did he make you feel? How did he feel? Tell us! Or better yet share anecdotes to show us. How did he fit into your philosohy? What surprised you about him? What did you learn from him? Coaxing that level of introspection and detail would've made for a better read.
That passage is quite typical of the entire book: there is no meaningful subjective analysis here whatsoever. No individuality that defines this as an autobiography. Just these constipated sentences.
I'll stop there. Wenger is someone I've grown up with and admire. One of my OG heroes. But this is a waste of time. 2* because I still love the man, the first chapter felt sincere and intimate, and there are a few edible quotes. Beyond that I can't recommend this, not even to die-hard Wenger or Arsenal fans. Listen to his recent (2020) interviews instead.
Of those, the final 59 pages form a section named Career Record - a dry recitation of season stats and other statistical miscellanea.
261 pages then. All bereft of the charm, humour, incisiveness and vision that brought Wenger to global esteem in the first place. All written in a blocky style I've attempted to match in this review. The book's translaters, Daniel Hahn and Andrea Reece, are eminent translaters. Wenger himself is a respected wordsmith polyglot. So I've no idea how we end up with such tedious, brick prose. Think I'm kidding? Nullius in verba:
We bought Patrick Viera from AC Milan just as he was about to sign for Ajax in Amsterdam. I managed to convince him and his agents Marc Roger and Jean-François Larios that he should come to Arsenal. He made a huge impression on me as a young player in Cannes when I was the Monaco coach. He had found it difficult to break into the first team and Milan let him go. And he trusted us.
Such lego sentences. And beyond that, what did you like about Viera? How did he make you feel? How did he feel? Tell us! Or better yet share anecdotes to show us. How did he fit into your philosohy? What surprised you about him? What did you learn from him? Coaxing that level of introspection and detail would've made for a better read.
That passage is quite typical of the entire book: there is no meaningful subjective analysis here whatsoever. No individuality that defines this as an autobiography. Just these constipated sentences.
I'll stop there. Wenger is someone I've grown up with and admire. One of my OG heroes. But this is a waste of time. 2* because I still love the man, the first chapter felt sincere and intimate, and there are a few edible quotes. Beyond that I can't recommend this, not even to die-hard Wenger or Arsenal fans. Listen to his recent (2020) interviews instead.
October 13, 2020
I will probably attempt to write a proper review for this when I'm done being a blubbering mess.
November 13, 2020
I was really looking forward to this book. Although I am not an Arsenal supporter I do however admire Arsene Wenger and all that he has achieved in Football. A very interesting life I'm sure while working at the very top of the game and dealing with some of the major personalities and players in doing so. I was interested to know more and maybe hear a few lesser known stories that have remained secrets till now. Unfortunately this book does not tell us anymore than we have already witnessed. No stories behind the transfer dealings or banter regarding the scrapes making this book a very disappointing read.
This is a fairly quick read unfortunately I fear because the best and most interesting stories have not been told. Instead we are told of Wenger's early days in football, the season of the invincibles and very little else.
Arsene Wenger had a great life in football unfortunately very little is told about it in this book.
This is a fairly quick read unfortunately I fear because the best and most interesting stories have not been told. Instead we are told of Wenger's early days in football, the season of the invincibles and very little else.
Arsene Wenger had a great life in football unfortunately very little is told about it in this book.
October 28, 2020
A slightly disappointingly insight and controversy free autobiography – Wenger’s continuing involvement with FIFA perhaps blunting any real score settling (but when the now well-known Tapie-era issues in French football are only alluded rather than addressed, you know you will not get any real details on say his views on English referees.
The writing also it has to be says is a little off - its hard to know if it is the original or the translation, but its an odd assortment of very simple and clunky sentences with rather enigmatic statements (which I suspect are in the French original).
The book just fails to come to life – I was at many of the games featured in the book but almost never did I feel that the book was adding anything to spark my memories of the matches. And many iconic moments are simply not mentioned at all.
And the padding of the book with a rather odd selection of career statistics which could easily be referenced from Wikipedia is I think poor judgement, particularly given the cost of the hardback edition
The book is perhaps most interesting on Wenger’s early life and career – as this is little covered elsewhere. Another area that is perhaps even clearer from the book than I already thought it was is how the Invincible Season was an extremely deliberate and very explicit target (and it was interesting to read this part only 5/6 games into the 2020-21 season when already every team in the Premiership has lost).
One small oddity is Wenger’s (at least) twice repeated claim that he inherited a mid-table club from Rioch – Arsenal had finished fifth the previous season.
The pictures include a picture of a banner-trailing plane – but unfortunately not the one I helped crowdfund.
Overall – somewhat like the 2015-16 season – a rather glaring opportunity missed.
The writing also it has to be says is a little off - its hard to know if it is the original or the translation, but its an odd assortment of very simple and clunky sentences with rather enigmatic statements (which I suspect are in the French original).
The book just fails to come to life – I was at many of the games featured in the book but almost never did I feel that the book was adding anything to spark my memories of the matches. And many iconic moments are simply not mentioned at all.
And the padding of the book with a rather odd selection of career statistics which could easily be referenced from Wikipedia is I think poor judgement, particularly given the cost of the hardback edition
The book is perhaps most interesting on Wenger’s early life and career – as this is little covered elsewhere. Another area that is perhaps even clearer from the book than I already thought it was is how the Invincible Season was an extremely deliberate and very explicit target (and it was interesting to read this part only 5/6 games into the 2020-21 season when already every team in the Premiership has lost).
One small oddity is Wenger’s (at least) twice repeated claim that he inherited a mid-table club from Rioch – Arsenal had finished fifth the previous season.
The pictures include a picture of a banner-trailing plane – but unfortunately not the one I helped crowdfund.
Overall – somewhat like the 2015-16 season – a rather glaring opportunity missed.
October 17, 2020
Full disclosure, I have been an Arsenal fan for over 50 years, and an Arsene Wenger fan since the day I saw him announced as our manager on the Jumbotron at Highbury in 1996. I was devastated when he eventually left Arsenal, even though I knew the day had to come sometime.
Arsenal fans have waited a long time for this book in the hope of Arsene dishing the dirt but I knew this would never happen. This is the story of a principled, proud man. Someone who would never knowingly offend or hurt, and whose love of football has cost him dearly in his relationships.
Nonetheless, this book gives a great insight into the various transfers and dealings. I loved the story of David Dein's daughter crying silently into her dinner when she realised her favourite Ian Wright was being sold. I did the same when I heard the news.
I was disgusted at Arsene's hounding by the press after a vicious journalist spread lies which although totally unfounded resulted in his 12 year old step-son being hounded. This hurt him deeply.
Thank you Mr Wenger for everything, for maintaining your dignity and reading this book so beautifully.
Arsenal fans have waited a long time for this book in the hope of Arsene dishing the dirt but I knew this would never happen. This is the story of a principled, proud man. Someone who would never knowingly offend or hurt, and whose love of football has cost him dearly in his relationships.
Nonetheless, this book gives a great insight into the various transfers and dealings. I loved the story of David Dein's daughter crying silently into her dinner when she realised her favourite Ian Wright was being sold. I did the same when I heard the news.
I was disgusted at Arsene's hounding by the press after a vicious journalist spread lies which although totally unfounded resulted in his 12 year old step-son being hounded. This hurt him deeply.
Thank you Mr Wenger for everything, for maintaining your dignity and reading this book so beautifully.
March 7, 2021
3.5* rounded upwards.
I didn’t expect, nor did I want, a “kiss and tell” from the Prof. But this constantly erred upon the side of circumspection to the point of verging on the anodyne. I suppose autobiography is always going to be about promoting oneself in the most favourable light. This read at times like the official biography of the patron saint of football devoid of the frailties which afflict mere flesh and blood. That is probably unfair and I read it in English so don’t know how much, if anything, was lost in translation.
I did find it interesting, but then I support the Arsenal and could be expected to do so. Interestingly, there was no reference to his immediate successor at Arsenal, despite the fact that Arteta’s appointment as manager in 2019 was noted and appears to have AW’s blessing. It was insightful and I did enjoy reading it but perhaps I expected too much and therefore was just a shade disappointed.
I didn’t expect, nor did I want, a “kiss and tell” from the Prof. But this constantly erred upon the side of circumspection to the point of verging on the anodyne. I suppose autobiography is always going to be about promoting oneself in the most favourable light. This read at times like the official biography of the patron saint of football devoid of the frailties which afflict mere flesh and blood. That is probably unfair and I read it in English so don’t know how much, if anything, was lost in translation.
I did find it interesting, but then I support the Arsenal and could be expected to do so. Interestingly, there was no reference to his immediate successor at Arsenal, despite the fact that Arteta’s appointment as manager in 2019 was noted and appears to have AW’s blessing. It was insightful and I did enjoy reading it but perhaps I expected too much and therefore was just a shade disappointed.
November 7, 2020
Mr Wenger conducted himself as a man of intelligence and astute economist. I am disappointed with his autobiography and his rendition of 22 years at the helm of Arsenal football club. I was expecting a move away from the traditional biographies of sport men who speakers of pivotal moments in their careers to a psychological rendition of his 22 years at the helm of Arsenal. He worked with exceptional athletes and then towards the end with mediocre players who under his tutelage became a little bit above average. (It would be nice to hear his views in details on this time and personnels) My only conclusion is that football is seen as the sport of the masses and his advisers must have informed him to write something suitable for the majority. A man who was above most of his contemporaries and had a full hand on the administration of a big club; I am sorry this biography is an insult to the man I perceived.
November 3, 2020
What to say? That this book left me underwhelmed is an understatement. I don't think anyone going to read this ever thought Wenger would lift the lid and dish out some nastiness or air vendettas against people, but what I expected was more emotion. More honesty. I was there for all the events he described. I know what happened. But I didn't need that. I wanted to know how he felt after the big decisions, the big games. Especially where he felt there were injustices.
I also found it difficult to read that he felt Arsenal "cracked" in the Spring of the 07-08 season. That he didn't speak of the emotions of why that happened (Eduardo) and that he praised Gallas twice in the book after his strop? I think you're allowed to acknowledge your captain failed your team in that instance.
We heard for years about that summer of 2011. He said himself he could easily write a book on the "unbelievable" summer that year. Well.... he did. And nothing he wrote shed any light on what happened.
So when the big things aren't addressed, it highlights the small things even more. The spacing, wide margins, blank pages between chapters, inaccuracies in some of the things he said, inaccurate taglines for pictures, even some of the stats at the back of the book (57 pages! WTF?!) had inaccuracies. It all made for a very disappointing experience. I am forever grateful to him for how he managed Arsenal. And I could listen to him talk about any topic. But knowing the type of person he is, makes this end product all the more disappointing. I honestly don't know how people are awarding this 5 stars.
I also found it difficult to read that he felt Arsenal "cracked" in the Spring of the 07-08 season. That he didn't speak of the emotions of why that happened (Eduardo) and that he praised Gallas twice in the book after his strop? I think you're allowed to acknowledge your captain failed your team in that instance.
We heard for years about that summer of 2011. He said himself he could easily write a book on the "unbelievable" summer that year. Well.... he did. And nothing he wrote shed any light on what happened.
So when the big things aren't addressed, it highlights the small things even more. The spacing, wide margins, blank pages between chapters, inaccuracies in some of the things he said, inaccurate taglines for pictures, even some of the stats at the back of the book (57 pages! WTF?!) had inaccuracies. It all made for a very disappointing experience. I am forever grateful to him for how he managed Arsenal. And I could listen to him talk about any topic. But knowing the type of person he is, makes this end product all the more disappointing. I honestly don't know how people are awarding this 5 stars.
October 21, 2020
As a fan of Arsenal this was a must read for me. I went into it knowing that there would be no Alex Ferguson-esque revelations, no naming and shaming or divulging dressing room bust ups and other behind closed door goings on. Arsene Wenger has too much class for that.
What this book did do though was show the mans love for the sport and his winning mentality. Reading these pages, not only can you feel the torment he went through when he didn’t achieve the results he set out to but also the utter joy when he achieved the unique successes such as the crowning of ‘The Invincibles’ and his record breaking 7 managerial FA Cup victories.
This is not only a must read for Arsenal fans but also football fans in general and anyone who wants to know what drives a person to achieve unprecedented success, whatever their vocation.
What this book did do though was show the mans love for the sport and his winning mentality. Reading these pages, not only can you feel the torment he went through when he didn’t achieve the results he set out to but also the utter joy when he achieved the unique successes such as the crowning of ‘The Invincibles’ and his record breaking 7 managerial FA Cup victories.
This is not only a must read for Arsenal fans but also football fans in general and anyone who wants to know what drives a person to achieve unprecedented success, whatever their vocation.
July 3, 2021
خوب بود و دوست داشتنی...
داستان فراز و فرود های مردی که آرسنال رو ساخت!!!
داستان فراز و فرود های مردی که آرسنال رو ساخت!!!
November 8, 2020
Obviously I'm slightly biased, as a long-suffering Arsenal fan, but this was a great read. It plays out pretty much how you'd expect it to - beginning with his early years in starkly rural Alsace and all the challenges that encompassed, to his position as a player-coach as AS Nancy and Cannes, through his troubled tenure at Monaco, his famous 22-year life at Arsenal and ends on his current position at FIFA.
With free-flowing honesty, self-deprecating humour and still exuberant passion, he charts the stages of his professional and (less so) personal life in a smart, engrossing way that operates on a see-saw; on the one hand he admits to being slightly cold and selfish, and on the other methodically charming & occasionally poetic.
Obviously there's plenty in here that resonated on a deep level for me. A child of the Invincibles era, I remember the glory of 03/04 with surprising clarity, given that I was 9. When writing about Arsenal's legendary former home stadium Highbury, Wenger writes that 'every supporter's first game at Highbury was like a baptism', and mine certainly was - the 2006 game where we beat Middlesborough 7-0, including that famous Thierry Henry hatrick. He also writes about enjoying the nervousness and intensity of the build-up to every game, something that every fan of any team will be able to relate to. Although, in the case of Arsenal these days, that nervousness can be overpowering; though re-building with what feels like proper spirit now, we're still alarmingly unpredictable.
But what really twines the book together is a showcase of just how far dedication, obsession and loyalty can take someone. By any measure, Wenger is obsessive, and has often been excessively so. His passion for the sport in general has never wavered, and his vision is as clear now as it has ever been; something that strikes a power chord in the final chapter, where he outlines his plans at FIFA to increase development of the rules, young players and contribute to the growth of women's football too.
It also means that some portions of the book are likely to be unappealing to the casual fan; opinionated sections on financial fair play, the transfer process and zonal marking will only be well received by the choir. But it's a testament to just how much blood (maybe?), sweat and tears (definitely) he poured into football, and how he made managing Arsenal his entire, composite life's work. And the poignancy with which he writes about losing the Champions League final in 2006, leaving Arsenal and his regrets as a father is very tangible. It's a human, if punctilious story, and there's real beauty to be mined from it.
With free-flowing honesty, self-deprecating humour and still exuberant passion, he charts the stages of his professional and (less so) personal life in a smart, engrossing way that operates on a see-saw; on the one hand he admits to being slightly cold and selfish, and on the other methodically charming & occasionally poetic.
Obviously there's plenty in here that resonated on a deep level for me. A child of the Invincibles era, I remember the glory of 03/04 with surprising clarity, given that I was 9. When writing about Arsenal's legendary former home stadium Highbury, Wenger writes that 'every supporter's first game at Highbury was like a baptism', and mine certainly was - the 2006 game where we beat Middlesborough 7-0, including that famous Thierry Henry hatrick. He also writes about enjoying the nervousness and intensity of the build-up to every game, something that every fan of any team will be able to relate to. Although, in the case of Arsenal these days, that nervousness can be overpowering; though re-building with what feels like proper spirit now, we're still alarmingly unpredictable.
But what really twines the book together is a showcase of just how far dedication, obsession and loyalty can take someone. By any measure, Wenger is obsessive, and has often been excessively so. His passion for the sport in general has never wavered, and his vision is as clear now as it has ever been; something that strikes a power chord in the final chapter, where he outlines his plans at FIFA to increase development of the rules, young players and contribute to the growth of women's football too.
It also means that some portions of the book are likely to be unappealing to the casual fan; opinionated sections on financial fair play, the transfer process and zonal marking will only be well received by the choir. But it's a testament to just how much blood (maybe?), sweat and tears (definitely) he poured into football, and how he made managing Arsenal his entire, composite life's work. And the poignancy with which he writes about losing the Champions League final in 2006, leaving Arsenal and his regrets as a father is very tangible. It's a human, if punctilious story, and there's real beauty to be mined from it.
January 21, 2021
Absolutely brilliant. Le professeur offers wondrous insight into football and life itself. Would definitely recommend. C’est la vie!
October 15, 2020
As an Arsenal fan, I needed this book. I fell in love with the club because of the way Ian Wright played and perhaps more importantly, because of Wenger’s brand of football.
This book is a great insight into the man. He will always mean so much to me and he is an important contributor to the game that we all love.
Thank you Arsene.
This book is a great insight into the man. He will always mean so much to me and he is an important contributor to the game that we all love.
Thank you Arsene.
November 14, 2020
Good, but slightly disappointing. For such a long and decorated career, I was expecting a more substantial read filled with interesting anecdotes and lesser known incidents from beyond the touchline.
Wenger has managed some great players and had some fierce rivalries, but I don't feel like there was any REAL insight aside from what you'd find in a Wiki article. And anything where there was an interesting story behind it was told somewhat dryly with none of that Wenger wit.
I suppose it speaks to Wenger's character that he hasn't engaged in gossip, which I give him huge credit for. It's also clear he has, unsurprisingly, huge knowledge of the game and a passion for its advancement.
Overall, this book reads like an engaging conversation about football with Le Professeur, but at times you do feel like a journalist as opposed to a friend.
Wenger has managed some great players and had some fierce rivalries, but I don't feel like there was any REAL insight aside from what you'd find in a Wiki article. And anything where there was an interesting story behind it was told somewhat dryly with none of that Wenger wit.
I suppose it speaks to Wenger's character that he hasn't engaged in gossip, which I give him huge credit for. It's also clear he has, unsurprisingly, huge knowledge of the game and a passion for its advancement.
Overall, this book reads like an engaging conversation about football with Le Professeur, but at times you do feel like a journalist as opposed to a friend.
January 19, 2021
3.5 stars
November 17, 2020
Doesn't go into detail about literally anything, but nice to read Arsene's musings on football, the universe etc.
March 12, 2022
Although not an Arsenal fan I admired Arsene Wenger as a manager (even though he would never admit that Arsenal had benefited from a dubious refereeing decision - he would always say that he hadn't seen the incident!). I was therefore looking forward to reading his autobiography, especially the section covering his years at Arsenal, during which the club were very successful. I did enjoy 'My Life in Red and White' although wasn't as gripped by it as I thought I would be. I was expecting more detail about the Invincibles season when Arsenal won the Premiership without losing a match, i.e. a match by match analysis as in the book about Leicester City's Premiership win. However it was more of an overview. I was pleased to find a statistics section at the end which did give more details, such as league tables and top scorers (although I got distracted by checking where Aston Villa had finished!!).
I did however learn a lot about Arsene Wenger the man. I knew that he was very committed to his role as a manager, but hadn't realised quite how much football had taken over his life. Although in many ways a solitary man, it was clear from the book that he had many friends and colleagues that he thought highly of. Although of course with this being an autobiography it is a subjective book, he came across as a very fair man who cares passionately for the wellbeing of his players and is prepared to put in a lot of effort personally to nurture up and coming players.
He was manager at Arsenal during a time when football changed dramatically. Traditionally the owners of the big clubs tended to be wealthy local businessmen with a love of the game. Gradually foreign investors injected huge amounts of capital into Premiership clubs, American entrepreneurs, Russian oligarchs and wealthy Asians now own England's top football clubs. Wenger commented on the growing number of staff employed by Arsenal who looked after the marketing and branding of the club. This was an interesting aspect of the book.
It was also interesting reading about the construction of the new Emirates stadium and the financial restraints that this brought as the club had to pay back the loan that had financed it. This meant that Arsenal had far less money to buy new players. Arsene Wenger had always had a knack of finding talented youngsters and players with untapped potential and this stood the club in good stead as they remained successful and financially stable.
In the epilogue Wenger comments that whilst he still has a fulfilling job working for FIFA, since he retired from football management he has had more time for leisure activities and to spend more time with his daughter. He acknowledges that his family were neglected because of his total commitment to football. As he says in an earlier chapter "It was a real vocation, a monastic life devoted to football, a life chosen with passion, perhaps also sometimes with a bit of madness and some sacrifices". He concludes the book saying that he feels very lucky to have achieved his childhood dreams, indeed to have surpassed them.
The book is translated from the French but there is no coauthor as is often the case with autobiographies. It is a very well written book and shows what a talented individual Arsene Wenger is. All in all an interesting read.
I did however learn a lot about Arsene Wenger the man. I knew that he was very committed to his role as a manager, but hadn't realised quite how much football had taken over his life. Although in many ways a solitary man, it was clear from the book that he had many friends and colleagues that he thought highly of. Although of course with this being an autobiography it is a subjective book, he came across as a very fair man who cares passionately for the wellbeing of his players and is prepared to put in a lot of effort personally to nurture up and coming players.
He was manager at Arsenal during a time when football changed dramatically. Traditionally the owners of the big clubs tended to be wealthy local businessmen with a love of the game. Gradually foreign investors injected huge amounts of capital into Premiership clubs, American entrepreneurs, Russian oligarchs and wealthy Asians now own England's top football clubs. Wenger commented on the growing number of staff employed by Arsenal who looked after the marketing and branding of the club. This was an interesting aspect of the book.
It was also interesting reading about the construction of the new Emirates stadium and the financial restraints that this brought as the club had to pay back the loan that had financed it. This meant that Arsenal had far less money to buy new players. Arsene Wenger had always had a knack of finding talented youngsters and players with untapped potential and this stood the club in good stead as they remained successful and financially stable.
In the epilogue Wenger comments that whilst he still has a fulfilling job working for FIFA, since he retired from football management he has had more time for leisure activities and to spend more time with his daughter. He acknowledges that his family were neglected because of his total commitment to football. As he says in an earlier chapter "It was a real vocation, a monastic life devoted to football, a life chosen with passion, perhaps also sometimes with a bit of madness and some sacrifices". He concludes the book saying that he feels very lucky to have achieved his childhood dreams, indeed to have surpassed them.
The book is translated from the French but there is no coauthor as is often the case with autobiographies. It is a very well written book and shows what a talented individual Arsene Wenger is. All in all an interesting read.
October 16, 2021
Arsène Wenger is undoubtedly a great manager. He took Arsenal from being a mid table team to champions and changed the entire dynamic of the club in terms of dietary needs and preparation, to the point it's now the norm throughout the English game. So even though I'm not an Arsenal fan I thought I'd enjoy his autobiography as he shared insights on his life and career.
Wrong!!!
This book reads like a textbook. Wenger recounts past events but there's no anecdotes whatsoever, no revelations about the backstage work of running a football club and barely any opinions on the players he's managed for so many decades.
Things that should have been whole sections like the match fixing scandal, the time Arsenal offered £40,000,001 to Liverpool to activate a supposed transfer clause for Luis Suárez and his rivalry with Alex Ferguson were glossed over in a paragraph or two. And there's not a single mention of José Mourinho whatsoever despite them having a very heated relationship over the years. He's renound for bringing in young untested players and nurturing them into world class superstars but we get nothing about what he saw in them. He might as well have been looking on a spreadsheet of potential stats on Championship Manager for as much as he divulged.
As well as this we get his views on what a coach should be. But again there's no personality injected into his words. It comes across so mechanical and impersonal that it was boring to read and made him come across as emotionless robot. Case in point, his wife. She's barely mentioned and at one point he describes their relationship as "friendly". Can't you just feel his love radiating as you read that?
If it hadn't been so short (thank you Kindl for telling me how many hours I had left) I would have stopped reading this quickly. The only saving grace is I only wasted a quid on it.
Avoid like the plague. If you want to do something more enjoyable with your time then watch paint dry. It won't be nearly as dull as this.
Wrong!!!
This book reads like a textbook. Wenger recounts past events but there's no anecdotes whatsoever, no revelations about the backstage work of running a football club and barely any opinions on the players he's managed for so many decades.
Things that should have been whole sections like the match fixing scandal, the time Arsenal offered £40,000,001 to Liverpool to activate a supposed transfer clause for Luis Suárez and his rivalry with Alex Ferguson were glossed over in a paragraph or two. And there's not a single mention of José Mourinho whatsoever despite them having a very heated relationship over the years. He's renound for bringing in young untested players and nurturing them into world class superstars but we get nothing about what he saw in them. He might as well have been looking on a spreadsheet of potential stats on Championship Manager for as much as he divulged.
As well as this we get his views on what a coach should be. But again there's no personality injected into his words. It comes across so mechanical and impersonal that it was boring to read and made him come across as emotionless robot. Case in point, his wife. She's barely mentioned and at one point he describes their relationship as "friendly". Can't you just feel his love radiating as you read that?
If it hadn't been so short (thank you Kindl for telling me how many hours I had left) I would have stopped reading this quickly. The only saving grace is I only wasted a quid on it.
Avoid like the plague. If you want to do something more enjoyable with your time then watch paint dry. It won't be nearly as dull as this.
October 9, 2022
Gone for three because I love the man and couldn’t bear to go any lower, but it probably should be a two. It was definitely readable, and I’ve got a deep respect for anything Wenger has to say. However, he doesn’t say all that much. With the wide margins, large font and the fact that the book is fairly short anyway, it doesn’t really go any deeper than as to briefly describe a situation (sometimes a whole premier league season in a couple of paragraphs) before adding a passing comment or two, or a general description of how he felt during each period.
I did enjoy it, and there were times (especially at the beginning and end of the book) where he went into more detail, which was a good read, but I wish he had done it more. I’m no wiser as to any specifics of what went on behind the scenes at arsenal in his 22 years there, for instance, nor was there any other real storytelling, insight into the specifics of management, or his side of the story on some of the most famous incidents he was involved in. I can’t help but feel he could’ve let the reader into much more.
I do though, have a deep respect for the lifestyle he has led, the respect and class that still oozes through his words, and the discipline that continues to shape his outlook on life. I admire how far he came, and will always look up to him as a manager and as a man.
I did enjoy it, and there were times (especially at the beginning and end of the book) where he went into more detail, which was a good read, but I wish he had done it more. I’m no wiser as to any specifics of what went on behind the scenes at arsenal in his 22 years there, for instance, nor was there any other real storytelling, insight into the specifics of management, or his side of the story on some of the most famous incidents he was involved in. I can’t help but feel he could’ve let the reader into much more.
I do though, have a deep respect for the lifestyle he has led, the respect and class that still oozes through his words, and the discipline that continues to shape his outlook on life. I admire how far he came, and will always look up to him as a manager and as a man.
October 20, 2020
Underwhelming!
Wow, what a disappointment this book was. As a lifelong fan of the Arsenal and ‘Le Professeur’ Arsene Wenger I was hoping this would be a detailed look into the man, the teams, the players and the matches that defined them. Instead you get a whistlestop tour of his career with the author providing what is essentially a top line summary of some of the events, not even always chronologically.
Instead of detailing his feelings as he goes into key matches he brushes aside huge events in a couple of sentences. Pretty much: “That year we won the double and the following year united won the treble.” Wow, ok thanks for the insight Arsene!
You only need to look at how big the book is to know how scant the detail is. 22 years at arsenal alone and the entire book is 352 pages long. By comparison Alex Ferguson needed two volumes for his own story.
Gutted - I really wanted this book to be good but to be honest you don’t get anything you couldn’t have learned reading a few post match interviews, and really they would contain more detail.
Shame!
Wow, what a disappointment this book was. As a lifelong fan of the Arsenal and ‘Le Professeur’ Arsene Wenger I was hoping this would be a detailed look into the man, the teams, the players and the matches that defined them. Instead you get a whistlestop tour of his career with the author providing what is essentially a top line summary of some of the events, not even always chronologically.
Instead of detailing his feelings as he goes into key matches he brushes aside huge events in a couple of sentences. Pretty much: “That year we won the double and the following year united won the treble.” Wow, ok thanks for the insight Arsene!
You only need to look at how big the book is to know how scant the detail is. 22 years at arsenal alone and the entire book is 352 pages long. By comparison Alex Ferguson needed two volumes for his own story.
Gutted - I really wanted this book to be good but to be honest you don’t get anything you couldn’t have learned reading a few post match interviews, and really they would contain more detail.
Shame!
January 18, 2021
Piątek, 20 kwietnia 2018 roku, ładny wiosenny poranek. Siedziałem, jak zwykle, z kawą przy kompie i odpisywałem na maile. I koło jedenastej zaczęły atakować mój telefon powiadomienia z Twittera i sportowych aplikacji. Wszystkie miały do przekazania jedną wiadomość - Arsene Wenger odchodzi z Arsenalu! Rzuciłem się na te newsy jak w gorączce, a chwilę później - zaskakując samego siebie - rozpłakałem się jak dziecko.
Wenger był menadżerem Kanonierów przez prawie całą historię mojego im kibicowania (zaczęło się rok przed jego przyjściem w 1996 od pojawienia się w klubie Dennisa Bergkampa, od lat noszę się z uruchomieniem bloga Blame Dennis…) i żadna inna publiczna osoba nie była tak często i regularnie obecna w moim życiu - konferencje przed i po meczowe, transmisje spotkań, analizy po kolejkach Premier League i Champions League, wywiady, twitty… Ceniłem go za jego inteligencję, poczucie humoru, wiedzę i drużyny, które przez te wszystkie lata w północnym Londynie zbudował. Nawet w tych gorszych chwilach ery Emirates co jakiś czas działa się w Arsenalu magia, która pozwała wierzyć, że jeszcze będzie wspaniale.
22 lata w jednym klubie… Mistrzostwa Anglii, puchary, budowa nowego stadionu, pożegnanie z Highbury i przeprowadzka na The Emirates. Cała epoka w cyfrowo przyspieszonych dziejach świata, ligi i klubu oczywiście. Ostatni po sir Alexie Fergusonie menadżer, który będzie tak bardzo kojarzony tylko z jednym klubem. Dzisiaj, gdy w piłce liczą się tylko natychmiastowe wyniki, sytuacja nie do wyobrażenia. Piękna to historia, mimo ostatnich lat chudych, podczas których hasło #wengerout słyszało się bez przerwy. I myślę, że kiedy to out nastąpiło nawet najwięksi przeciwnicy Wengera musieli z szacunkiem spojrzeć na to, co udało mu się zbudować w coraz trudniejszych warunkach.
Nic więc dziwnego, że kiedy tylko w październiku 2019 pojawiła się informacja, że Wenger napisze autobiografię to głowa mi się zapaliła i czekałem niecierpliwie, licząc że pojawią się w niej odpowiedzi na 1000 nie dających mi spokoju pytań, że będzie szansa zajrzeć za kulisy, do klubowej szatni i poznać zabawne, pikantne, kontrowersyjne może anegdoty. 22 lata tylko w Arsenalu! Jest co opowiadać!
Rzuciłem się na polskie tłumaczenie, jak tylko trafiło w me łapy (Agata ❤). I już na początku zdziwienie - tylko 272 strony? A nie, przepraszam! 249, bo reszta to spis ilustracji, sucha lista trenerskich osiągnięć, indeks osób. 249 stron, z których jakieś 100 to 22 lata w Arsenalu. Samo gęste będzie, pomyślałem sobie. Okazało się, że było samo rzadkie. I śmierdzące.
Przez całą książkę, napisaną suchym, pozbawionym emocji językiem - mieszanka listy zakupów, tekstów z folderu reklamowego korporacji i listu motywacyjnego do FIFA - Wenger jest spokojnym, grzecznym dyplomatą, który dzieli się szczodrze swoim filozoficznym spojrzeniem na futbol (słowa „pasja”, „samotność”, „piękno” pojawiają się nieprzyzwoicie często). Zdawkowo opisuje kolejne przystanki swojej kariery: od bistro rodziców w alzackiej wiosce, przez skromne osiągnięcia piłkarskie i pierwsze doświadczenia trenerskie, aż po zatrudnienie w Arsenalu. Ale nie ma w tym wszystkim niczego, czego fan nie wiedziałby już od dawna, nic w zasadzie z wyczekiwanych przeze mnie sekretów, tajemnic, a przede wszystkim EMOCJI DO JASNEJ CHOLERY! Bo przecież musiał coś czuć, jak zdradzał go van Persie, jak szarpał się z Jose, jak Barcelona pozbawiała go szans na wymarzony triumf w finale Ligi Mistrzów. I niby o dwóch z tych wydarzeń jest mowa w książce, ale to mowa trawa. Uładzona tak, żeby nikogo nie skrzywdzić, nie urazić.
A może żeby za bardzo nie bolało? Żeby nie musieć tak naprawdę wracać do bolesnych momentów. To bym jeszcze zrozumiał, uznał że jeszcze za wcześnie na prawdziwą historię Arsenalu oczami Wengera. Ale o tych szczęśliwych chwilach też nie dowiemy się więcej niż to, co zostało już dawno powiedziane. Całość - niezależnie od opisywanych wydarzeń - jest monotonna w tonie i kurde, potwornie nudna. We mnie z każdą kolejną stroną budziła coraz większą irytację, aż do wściekłości - jak można było zamordować takiego samograja!? Być może po latach dyskrecji, do jakiej przyzwyczaił mnie Wenger swoimi wypowiedziami powinna mi się zapalić czerwona lampka ostrzegawcza na wieść o autobiografii. A jednak liczyłem, że będzie chciał utrzeć nosa choćby zarządowi klubu, który w niefajny sposób się go pozbył. Nic z tego. Miłość do klubu zwyciężyła.
Odradzam tę książkę wszystkim, a szczególnie tym, którzy Wengera kochają. Lepiej odświeżyć sobie to, co o nim i Kanonierach napisali inni. Albo wziąć dowolny numer magazynu Kopalnia - sztuka futbolu, absolutnie genialnego nieregularnika poświęconego piłce nożnej. Każdy jeden tekst jest tam więcej warty niż autobiografia Wengera.
Dlatego nie wrzucam tu nawet jej okładki, niech na Was nie działa nawet podprogowo. Zamiast tego zdjęcie z 26 kwietnia 2018 z Emirates. Bo tak się złożyło, że w tygodniu po ogłoszeniu odejścia Wengera znalazłem się w Londynie i kupiłem nie do końca legalnie bilet na mecz (dzięki Maciek!). Trwa właśnie pierwszy półfinałowy pojedynek Arsenalu z Atletico w Lidze Europy. Co chwilę zamiast na wydarzenia na boisku patrzę na człowieka przy bocznej linii. Jego i moja wspólna droga w Arsenalu potrwa jeszcze tylko pięć spotkań. Klątwa europejskich pucharów nie zostanie przez francuskiego trenera przełamana. Ale i tak #merciarsene
Najgorsze mecze twojego Arsenalu były lepsze niż twoja autobiografia.
Wenger był menadżerem Kanonierów przez prawie całą historię mojego im kibicowania (zaczęło się rok przed jego przyjściem w 1996 od pojawienia się w klubie Dennisa Bergkampa, od lat noszę się z uruchomieniem bloga Blame Dennis…) i żadna inna publiczna osoba nie była tak często i regularnie obecna w moim życiu - konferencje przed i po meczowe, transmisje spotkań, analizy po kolejkach Premier League i Champions League, wywiady, twitty… Ceniłem go za jego inteligencję, poczucie humoru, wiedzę i drużyny, które przez te wszystkie lata w północnym Londynie zbudował. Nawet w tych gorszych chwilach ery Emirates co jakiś czas działa się w Arsenalu magia, która pozwała wierzyć, że jeszcze będzie wspaniale.
22 lata w jednym klubie… Mistrzostwa Anglii, puchary, budowa nowego stadionu, pożegnanie z Highbury i przeprowadzka na The Emirates. Cała epoka w cyfrowo przyspieszonych dziejach świata, ligi i klubu oczywiście. Ostatni po sir Alexie Fergusonie menadżer, który będzie tak bardzo kojarzony tylko z jednym klubem. Dzisiaj, gdy w piłce liczą się tylko natychmiastowe wyniki, sytuacja nie do wyobrażenia. Piękna to historia, mimo ostatnich lat chudych, podczas których hasło #wengerout słyszało się bez przerwy. I myślę, że kiedy to out nastąpiło nawet najwięksi przeciwnicy Wengera musieli z szacunkiem spojrzeć na to, co udało mu się zbudować w coraz trudniejszych warunkach.
Nic więc dziwnego, że kiedy tylko w październiku 2019 pojawiła się informacja, że Wenger napisze autobiografię to głowa mi się zapaliła i czekałem niecierpliwie, licząc że pojawią się w niej odpowiedzi na 1000 nie dających mi spokoju pytań, że będzie szansa zajrzeć za kulisy, do klubowej szatni i poznać zabawne, pikantne, kontrowersyjne może anegdoty. 22 lata tylko w Arsenalu! Jest co opowiadać!
Rzuciłem się na polskie tłumaczenie, jak tylko trafiło w me łapy (Agata ❤). I już na początku zdziwienie - tylko 272 strony? A nie, przepraszam! 249, bo reszta to spis ilustracji, sucha lista trenerskich osiągnięć, indeks osób. 249 stron, z których jakieś 100 to 22 lata w Arsenalu. Samo gęste będzie, pomyślałem sobie. Okazało się, że było samo rzadkie. I śmierdzące.
Przez całą książkę, napisaną suchym, pozbawionym emocji językiem - mieszanka listy zakupów, tekstów z folderu reklamowego korporacji i listu motywacyjnego do FIFA - Wenger jest spokojnym, grzecznym dyplomatą, który dzieli się szczodrze swoim filozoficznym spojrzeniem na futbol (słowa „pasja”, „samotność”, „piękno” pojawiają się nieprzyzwoicie często). Zdawkowo opisuje kolejne przystanki swojej kariery: od bistro rodziców w alzackiej wiosce, przez skromne osiągnięcia piłkarskie i pierwsze doświadczenia trenerskie, aż po zatrudnienie w Arsenalu. Ale nie ma w tym wszystkim niczego, czego fan nie wiedziałby już od dawna, nic w zasadzie z wyczekiwanych przeze mnie sekretów, tajemnic, a przede wszystkim EMOCJI DO JASNEJ CHOLERY! Bo przecież musiał coś czuć, jak zdradzał go van Persie, jak szarpał się z Jose, jak Barcelona pozbawiała go szans na wymarzony triumf w finale Ligi Mistrzów. I niby o dwóch z tych wydarzeń jest mowa w książce, ale to mowa trawa. Uładzona tak, żeby nikogo nie skrzywdzić, nie urazić.
A może żeby za bardzo nie bolało? Żeby nie musieć tak naprawdę wracać do bolesnych momentów. To bym jeszcze zrozumiał, uznał że jeszcze za wcześnie na prawdziwą historię Arsenalu oczami Wengera. Ale o tych szczęśliwych chwilach też nie dowiemy się więcej niż to, co zostało już dawno powiedziane. Całość - niezależnie od opisywanych wydarzeń - jest monotonna w tonie i kurde, potwornie nudna. We mnie z każdą kolejną stroną budziła coraz większą irytację, aż do wściekłości - jak można było zamordować takiego samograja!? Być może po latach dyskrecji, do jakiej przyzwyczaił mnie Wenger swoimi wypowiedziami powinna mi się zapalić czerwona lampka ostrzegawcza na wieść o autobiografii. A jednak liczyłem, że będzie chciał utrzeć nosa choćby zarządowi klubu, który w niefajny sposób się go pozbył. Nic z tego. Miłość do klubu zwyciężyła.
Odradzam tę książkę wszystkim, a szczególnie tym, którzy Wengera kochają. Lepiej odświeżyć sobie to, co o nim i Kanonierach napisali inni. Albo wziąć dowolny numer magazynu Kopalnia - sztuka futbolu, absolutnie genialnego nieregularnika poświęconego piłce nożnej. Każdy jeden tekst jest tam więcej warty niż autobiografia Wengera.
Dlatego nie wrzucam tu nawet jej okładki, niech na Was nie działa nawet podprogowo. Zamiast tego zdjęcie z 26 kwietnia 2018 z Emirates. Bo tak się złożyło, że w tygodniu po ogłoszeniu odejścia Wengera znalazłem się w Londynie i kupiłem nie do końca legalnie bilet na mecz (dzięki Maciek!). Trwa właśnie pierwszy półfinałowy pojedynek Arsenalu z Atletico w Lidze Europy. Co chwilę zamiast na wydarzenia na boisku patrzę na człowieka przy bocznej linii. Jego i moja wspólna droga w Arsenalu potrwa jeszcze tylko pięć spotkań. Klątwa europejskich pucharów nie zostanie przez francuskiego trenera przełamana. Ale i tak #merciarsene
Najgorsze mecze twojego Arsenalu były lepsze niż twoja autobiografia.
April 26, 2021
Arsene Wenger is undoubtedly the most brilliant mind associated with the sport of Football. Here he writes a truly inspiring book irrespective of whether you like Football or not. I recommend this book to everyone as there is so much to learn from the great man. I hope he guides the sport of Football in the right direction as he has always done. My sincere thanks to the author for writing this book.
October 18, 2020
A hugely disappointing book. The footballing content is abysmal, especially the Arsenal part. Wenger spent 22 years at Arsenal and merely glosses over the two decades in such an inconsequential way that beggars belief, though his self-aggrandisement is prominent throughout.
The publishers, Wiedenfield & Nicholson priced this book at £25 which is scandalous(I paid £13.60 from Amazon) The narrative runs to barely 50,000 words, from 1-261 pages with the rest padded out by stats. Between chapters there are 4/5 blank pages which throughout the book add up to 49 blank pages and are included in the page count, which means you actually get 212 pages of reading. For a man who has spent over 50 years in football the quantity and quality is scant in the extreme. It took me only three hours to read this and I don't consider myself a fast reader.
Not impressed by this book at all.
The publishers, Wiedenfield & Nicholson priced this book at £25 which is scandalous(I paid £13.60 from Amazon) The narrative runs to barely 50,000 words, from 1-261 pages with the rest padded out by stats. Between chapters there are 4/5 blank pages which throughout the book add up to 49 blank pages and are included in the page count, which means you actually get 212 pages of reading. For a man who has spent over 50 years in football the quantity and quality is scant in the extreme. It took me only three hours to read this and I don't consider myself a fast reader.
Not impressed by this book at all.
October 21, 2020
It's good. But it could have gone into more detail.
February 19, 2024
Good book if you like Arsenal and Wenger. Goes into some detail and gives interesting perspectives to things one might not have known before. Could be longer as some empty pages at start/end of chapters and a lot of stats but I didn’t write it and I like stats!
March 30, 2021
Not sure if it’s from the translation to English or just his writing style but was a very bland book in which I feel could have been far better, considering his history within football.
January 8, 2021
If you were to cut my wrists open I would bleed a North London Vintage 'Red and White'.
Therefore, as I am sure you have realised, I have a profound emotional investment in Mr Wenger's autobiography; or certainly a huge part of it.
Many years ago I quasi met the author in a petrol station in Crouch End. As I was waiting to pay for my fuel, a very tall track suited individual was quickly darting towards the entrance in my direction. By the time I had realised who he was I had already exited. I was in my car by the time he was walking toward his and must have realised me staring at him; he looked a little anxious. 'Is he about to give me a mouth load of abuse or is he one of us?' He must have been thinking. I confirmed the latter, by winding my car window down and politely wishing him well for that evening's match against Aston Villa. He replied with a profound French accent, “Thank you”, and off we went in our different directions.
His book tells us that he did have a life before Arsenal and now has another after his long relationship with that hallowed club. The classic tale of determination against all the odds to succeed is played out. Some very interesting facts about his life are also relayed. Of course the major part of the book is his time in the Premier League and how he changed it. His ideas, his philosophies and his methods of how he turned my club into not only Premier League Champions, but also changed the whole way of how they played the beautiful game.
For me as an Arsenal fan the tale is ultimately one of woe and a hint of under achieving after the great heights of the early years. I am under no doubt that Arsene Wenger is a good, honest, honourable and passionate man. All these virtues, I am sure, he had in abundance whilst Arsenal manager and elsewhere in his colourful life. That's why it pains me to write that the section describing his latter Arsenal career is purely a justification of why the 'holy grail' was not achieved. It appears as a confessional telling us all Arsenal fans why we never made it to the sacred goal; why we never won the Champions League, after having come very close in 2006. If I'm honest, the Champion's League, becomes a Banquo's ghost that is there between the lines. To describe it a complete failure is too harsh, he managed to qualify the club for the elite European competition on a record number of occasions, but the numerous unsuccessful Champion's League campaigns are haunting every page. Apologies to any non Arsenal fans, but those defeats still remain a bitter memory. Also on the same scale is arguably the reasons why the club did not invest in the way it possibly could have done, to push it to the next level. To be fair to Wenger he does spend a great of time explaining this.
I do hope that history is sympathetic to Wenger. Many of his contemporaries, were not. He was very successful. He did bring great times to the club. He does make contentious claims in his book that the rivalry with the other lot, who play in white and blue does not hold the same 'tensions'. He also claims that it is 'harder to win the Premier League than the Champion's League'. On both points I am not sure. Unfortunately, his own fans that we gooners once were, would, I am sure, argue vociferously that the rivalry will be as fierce and tension filled as always and that if the second point was correct, why did we not win the Champion's League?
It is a very well written book. A very comfortable read. The chapters are not too long. Although the final chapter does appear very quickly. Once you are at the 'Epilogue', you can still feel and see quite a number of pages to go. Unless you peek then you will not know why this final chapter is so long; it's not. After the 'Epilogue', there is a substantial section on facts and figures relating to Mr Wenger's career. I am not sure whether that was necessary, but it is a treat for any statisticians out there.
Some books have a great beginning and middle, but the end sometimes is surprisingly flat. This sums up this book for me, as an Arsenal fan, others I am sure would disagree. It is difficult to disconnect oneself emotionally from this tale, because of the reasons I have given. I wish that the tall man at the petrol station that I saw all the years ago, could have written a different ending. He definitely tried, but you cannot air brush away the disappointments of what could have been.
Therefore, as I am sure you have realised, I have a profound emotional investment in Mr Wenger's autobiography; or certainly a huge part of it.
Many years ago I quasi met the author in a petrol station in Crouch End. As I was waiting to pay for my fuel, a very tall track suited individual was quickly darting towards the entrance in my direction. By the time I had realised who he was I had already exited. I was in my car by the time he was walking toward his and must have realised me staring at him; he looked a little anxious. 'Is he about to give me a mouth load of abuse or is he one of us?' He must have been thinking. I confirmed the latter, by winding my car window down and politely wishing him well for that evening's match against Aston Villa. He replied with a profound French accent, “Thank you”, and off we went in our different directions.
His book tells us that he did have a life before Arsenal and now has another after his long relationship with that hallowed club. The classic tale of determination against all the odds to succeed is played out. Some very interesting facts about his life are also relayed. Of course the major part of the book is his time in the Premier League and how he changed it. His ideas, his philosophies and his methods of how he turned my club into not only Premier League Champions, but also changed the whole way of how they played the beautiful game.
For me as an Arsenal fan the tale is ultimately one of woe and a hint of under achieving after the great heights of the early years. I am under no doubt that Arsene Wenger is a good, honest, honourable and passionate man. All these virtues, I am sure, he had in abundance whilst Arsenal manager and elsewhere in his colourful life. That's why it pains me to write that the section describing his latter Arsenal career is purely a justification of why the 'holy grail' was not achieved. It appears as a confessional telling us all Arsenal fans why we never made it to the sacred goal; why we never won the Champions League, after having come very close in 2006. If I'm honest, the Champion's League, becomes a Banquo's ghost that is there between the lines. To describe it a complete failure is too harsh, he managed to qualify the club for the elite European competition on a record number of occasions, but the numerous unsuccessful Champion's League campaigns are haunting every page. Apologies to any non Arsenal fans, but those defeats still remain a bitter memory. Also on the same scale is arguably the reasons why the club did not invest in the way it possibly could have done, to push it to the next level. To be fair to Wenger he does spend a great of time explaining this.
I do hope that history is sympathetic to Wenger. Many of his contemporaries, were not. He was very successful. He did bring great times to the club. He does make contentious claims in his book that the rivalry with the other lot, who play in white and blue does not hold the same 'tensions'. He also claims that it is 'harder to win the Premier League than the Champion's League'. On both points I am not sure. Unfortunately, his own fans that we gooners once were, would, I am sure, argue vociferously that the rivalry will be as fierce and tension filled as always and that if the second point was correct, why did we not win the Champion's League?
It is a very well written book. A very comfortable read. The chapters are not too long. Although the final chapter does appear very quickly. Once you are at the 'Epilogue', you can still feel and see quite a number of pages to go. Unless you peek then you will not know why this final chapter is so long; it's not. After the 'Epilogue', there is a substantial section on facts and figures relating to Mr Wenger's career. I am not sure whether that was necessary, but it is a treat for any statisticians out there.
Some books have a great beginning and middle, but the end sometimes is surprisingly flat. This sums up this book for me, as an Arsenal fan, others I am sure would disagree. It is difficult to disconnect oneself emotionally from this tale, because of the reasons I have given. I wish that the tall man at the petrol station that I saw all the years ago, could have written a different ending. He definitely tried, but you cannot air brush away the disappointments of what could have been.
October 5, 2025
Arsène Wenger's Inspiring Journey as a Football Icon
My Life in Red and White is an intimate and inspiring memoir written by the legendary football manager, Arsène Wenger. In this engaging autobiography, Wenger takes readers on a captivating journey through his remarkable career, sharing valuable insights, personal anecdotes, and reflections on his time as the manager of Arsenal Football Club.
One of the strengths of My Life in Red and White lies in Wenger's ability to provide a unique perspective on the world of football. Through his narrative, readers gain a deep understanding of Wenger's managerial philosophy, his innovative approaches to the game, and the challenges he faced throughout his career. His passion for the sport shines through, and his commitment to developing young talent and playing attractive football is evident in every chapter.
The book offers a compelling blend of Wenger's personal and professional life, allowing readers to get to know the man behind the manager. Wenger's recounting of his childhood, his early experiences in coaching, and his pivotal moments as Arsenal's manager provide valuable context and contribute to a deeper appreciation of his journey. His honesty and self-reflection make the narrative relatable and inspiring for football enthusiasts and aspiring managers alike.
My Life in Red and White also delves into Wenger's relationships with players, fellow managers, and the Arsenal board. Wenger's anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories offer fascinating insights into the dynamics of managing a top-tier football club. His ability to foster a cohesive team spirit and build strong relationships is a testament to his leadership skills and the respect he commanded throughout his career.
Furthermore, Wenger's writing style is engaging and thoughtful. His passion for football and his love for the Arsenal fans shine through the pages, captivating readers and allowing them to feel a deeper connection with the sport and the club. The book is well-paced, providing a balance between gripping match narratives and introspective moments that delve into Wenger's thoughts and emotions.
While My Life in Red and White primarily focuses on Wenger's time at Arsenal, it also touches on broader themes within football, such as the evolution of the game, the influence of money and media, and the pressures faced by managers. These insights provide a broader context and contribute to the book's relevance beyond just Wenger's personal story.
In conclusion, My Life in Red and White is an inspiring and engaging memoir that takes readers on an incredible journey through the life and career of Arsène Wenger. His passion for football, his dedication to his craft, and his leadership abilities shine through in every page. Whether you are an Arsenal fan or a football enthusiast, this memoir offers valuable lessons, insights, and a deep appreciation for Wenger's lasting impact on the sport.
February 8, 2021
This was a plain read,tbh. Expected a bit more. Left me with mixed feelings.
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