Classic Desert Island Discs - Arsène Wenger

Lauren Laverne· Host0:00

Laura Lavergne here. We're taking our Easter break, so until we're back on air, we're showcasing a few programs from our archive. As usual, the music's been shortened for rights reasons. This week's guest is the former football manager, Arsène Wenger. I cast him away in 2020. [classical music] My castaway this week is Arsène Wenger. He spent his life in professional football, first as a player, then as a manager, known for his extraordinary staying power and equally extraordinary success. Most coaches' tenure lasts a few seasons. He led Arsenal for 22 years through 1,235 matches, transforming the club and British football in the process. His upbringing on the French border with Germany in the shadow of World War II instilled both his legendary discipline and his passion for sport. Football was a pleasure, an escape, and the nonstop topic of conversation at the bistro his parents ran. A thinker as well as a player, by the time he became a professional manager, he'd studied politics and economics and spoke several languages. None of it went to waste at Arsenal. His revolutionary approach to conditioning famously brought ballet and broccoli to the Gunners.