Robert Pires on why Arsene Wenger is unlikely to manage England

Pires - part of Arsenal's Invincibles under Wenger that went unbeaten in winning the Premier League in 2003/04 - believes the nature of international football would see the French coach become restless.

Wenger has already intimated that he would consider the England post if he moves on from Arsenal after 20 years when his contract expires at the end of the season.

But Pires cannot see a day when his fellow Frenchman will be settling down with an FA blazer as his coaching career winds down.

“I see Arsene - he loves the pitch every morning," said Pires.

"This is like an obsession, it’s a passion. Manager for the national team is not really the same, because he loves football."

"This is my opinion. If he takes this job, he needs to adapt. The new job. The new challenge. But I repeat, it’s not really the same.”

Pires feels that Wenger would restore credibility to the England national side following the depature of Roy Hodgson after the shambolic loss to Iceland in the Euro 2016 last 16 and Sam Allardyce's sacking after the Daily Telegraph sting.

“I understand the fans in England, they need a manager like Arsene Wenger, he is a great person and a great manager," said Pires.

“I don’t know what will happen but it would be a good opportunity for England. I don’t know [if it would] for Arsene Wenger."

"It is not the same job when you are manager of one club like Arsenal or for the country, seriously I don’t know what he wants for the future.”

Arsene Wenger would be a fantastic choice as England manager: he instructs his teams to play brilliant football, is deeply invested in youth development and has the long-term vision which is badly needed with England, writes Tom Adams. The only problem is that the chances of him leaving Arsenal appear remote.

rsenal are the job of his life and he has never broken his contract in north London despite past entreaties from France, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and, yes, England. The FA would be delighted to keep him but it seems as though Wenger is not ready to relinquish his position at Emirates Stadium just yet.