Wenger - No retirement plans

Wenger: Not thinking of retiring

I know one day it will happen but you shouldn't live every day knowing you are going to die - you live knowing that you want to live.

Arsene Wenger.
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Arsene Wenger insists he has no plans to retire despite the Arsenal boss approaching his 60th birthday next month.

The Frenchman is in his 14th season in charge of the Gunners, making him the second longest-serving manager in the Premier League behind Sir Alex Ferguson.

Wenger admitted that he had always thought he would call it a day when he turned 50, but now accepts a life without football would be unthinkable.

The former Monaco manager can understand why Ferguson was talked out of retirement at Manchester United in 2001 when he announced he was leaving the game and it seems the Gunners chief is going to be around for a while yet.

"I can understand that (Ferguson's decision), I said I would stop at 50," he said.

"I don't believe in retiring unless you have to. I have never had a day when I think I could live without football.

"I know one day it will happen but you shouldn't live every day knowing you are going to die - you live knowing that you want to live."

Will to win

Wenger went on to point out that other people will let him know when to call it a day, adding: "In our job you need physical strength and to be a bit of an animal to convince people it's important to win.

"But once that physical strength goes it's a handicap, although you can compensate to an extent with experience.

"But you need in some way to be an animal and you need physical power. You will know if you are not hungry enough any more but other people will tell you if you are not good enough any more.

"It's not for a manager to know - it's for other people to know and to tell him."

Wenger still classes going the whole season unbeaten in 2003/04 as his lasting legacy in football.

"Without a doubt going the whole season unbeaten is my greatest achievement," he stated.

"If you win the championship you feel someone else can come in and do better than you.

"It was always my dream to go the whole season unbeaten because there's not much more anyone can do to beat that."

Backing

One of the members of the 'Invincibles' was Sol Campbell and Wenger believes the defender can still play at the highest level after the England international walked out on League Two side Notts County after just one game.

"He knew straight away that's not where the challenge is," he declared.

"It is always a cultural shock when you go down a level. I know from talking to players who have had to do that.

"They experienced it badly in the first six months and you can understand why they decided to quit.

"I believe Sol still has enough in the locker to play in the Premier League. I knew it would be difficult for him there."