Arsene Wenger's arrival at Arsenal in October 1996 marked a turning point in English football, as he transformed the game. The French tactician introduced the Premier League to a possession-based brand of football that has since paved the way for dominant teams of modern times.
The Gunners' iconic former boss's influence was so successful that he was reportedly "top of the list" to replace Roy Hodgson as England manager in 2016. That appointment never occurred, and Wenger remained in charge at the Emirates for two more years.
He has since taken on the role of FIFA's Director of Development, while also working as a pundit on the side. It's incredible to hear the stories and views he has on current-day football, but perhaps even more compelling is his admiration for a Three Lions maestro he managed.
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Wenger: England Hero Was A Star In The Wrong Period
The ex-Arsenal boss gave a glowing verdict
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Wenger managed some of the most technically gifted English talent during his Arsenal reign, including Ashley Cole, Ray Parlour, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere. Those four often showcased his playing philosophy when representing the Three Lions, but he'd already got his hands on an English gem years before.
The Frenchman started his managerial career with AS Nancy before taking to the AS Monaco dugout in July 1987. He was introduced to a former Tottenham Hotspur hero, Glenn Hoddle.
Wenger managed Hoddle 87 times, winning the Ligue 1 title a year into his arrival, and the English midfielder was a major driving force during that triumph.
The three-time Premier League title-winning coach called him "unappreciated" in his homeland during an interview in 2003 (via The Guardian):
"He is the most skilful player I have ever worked with. His control was superb and he had perfect body balance. His skill in both feet was uncanny... I couldn't understand why he hadn't been appreciated in England. Perhaps he was a star in the wrong period, years ahead of his time."
Tottenham fans were well aware of the enormous talent Hoddle possessed as he'd flourished in their midfield for 12 years. England perhaps haven't developed a better passer of the ball than the Spurs legend.
Wenger's praise is truly indicative of how remarkably talented he was, given the list of world-class players he'd managed to that point. Thierry Henry was on the rise at Highbury, Dennis Bergkamp was at his mercurial best, while Marc Overmars and Robert Pires were among others he'd coached.
Hoddle left Monaco for Swindon Town in 1991 before ending his career at Chelsea. He made his international debut aged 21 and grabbed a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over Bulgaria.
There was no doubt he was one of the most technically gifted stars in the England team, but he wasn't a guaranteed starter. He was left on the bench for two of three Euro 1980 games and sat out three of five matches at the 1982 World Cup.
Hoddle finally became an undisputed starter at the 1986 World Cup, but the Three Lions crashed out in the quarterfinals against Diego Maradona's Argentina. His final major tournament came at Euro 1988, when his country failed to advance from their group.
Glenn Hoddle's Career
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Hoddle: Spell Under Wenger Led To Managerial Career
"I started looking at the game from the point of view of a coach"
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Hoddle learned what it took to be a manager while playing under Wenger at Monaco but also was let off his creative leash by the Frenchman. He recalled a pre-season game during an interview with Off The Ball:
"Arsene Wenger came in at half-time and said to me, ' Glenn you’re coming back far too deep, I want you to play in the opposition's half '. This was music to my ears. I had never had that instruction in the whole time I had been playing in England, whether it was for the national team or a club side.
"Arsene knew though that he had to give me some freedom to get into good positions on the ball. I flourished and we won the league that year."
Hoddle ran into recurring knee injuries during his career and one forced him to the sidelines while at Stade Louis II. He used time off the pitch to study the game:
"I had this terrible knee infection which took me out of the game at Monaco for nearly a whole season so I went to watch every game in the stands and it was almost like a coaching apprenticeship for me."
He added:
"I started looking at the game from the point of view of a coach. It was like another set of curtains started to open and the game just becomes completely different. I felt that actually, I could do this in the future."
Hoddle brought his deep knowledge of the game to the managerial dugout, where he performed a player-manager role at Swindon from 1991 to 1993 and then at Chelsea for three more years. He took the England job in July 1996 before returning to Tottenham in 2001, inevitably implementing an easy-on-the-eye playing style that took inspiration from Wenger's Monaco.
All statistics courtesy ofTransfermarkt - correct as of 16.06.2025
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