Wenger named world's best manager of the past decade

(but it's the only trophy he's won for six years)

Forget the heroics of José Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson, or the genius of Carlo Ancelotti, Arsène Wenger has been the world’s best manager over the past decade – and it’s official.

The Arsenal boss topped a table complied by the ‘International Football Federation of History & Statistics’ (IFFHS) – an organisation recognised by FIFA.

The 61-year-old, whose team have not won any silverware in six years, earned 156 points while Ferguson was second (148) and Real Madrid’s Mourinho followed in third (135).

The result was calculated by combining the results of the previous 10 years of the organisation’s manager-of-the-year, which in 2010 was won by Spain’s World Cup-winning coach Vicente Del Bosque.

According to the IFFHS it was Wenger’s consistency in the 10-year period that earned him the award.

Their website stated of the man who moved to Arsenal from Japanese club Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1996: 'Although the Frenchman has until now never won the annual vote, he has been among the best-placed coaches every year.

'It is admirable how he has repeatedly moulded young players into an attacking and technically brilliant way of play.'

Arsenal have not won a trophy under Wenger since the 2005 FA Cup, but the early part of the decade brought much success for the Frenchman they call the Professor.

The North London side won the double in 2002, the FA Cup in 2003 and went the whole Premier League season unbeaten as they won the title in 2004 with a team who became known as 'the invincibles’.

In fact, managers who have plied their trade in England have featured highly in the IFFHS list, with seven of the top 10 having bossed a Premier League side.

Only Marcelo Bielsa and Marcello Lippi have not taken charge of an English side.

In addition, and in spite of an atrocious World Cup with England, Fabio Capello sits a healthy fourth (120 points) with three Italian managers featuring in the top 10.

In contrast only three English bosses made the 176-strong list, with under-fire Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson the highest ranked at 92 (12), while Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and the late Sir Bobby Robson complete the English contingent in a joint 127th (7).

Even a mediocre five-year spell as England manager has not damaged Sven-Göran Eriksson’s reputation, as he is placed a lofty 13th (79).

The Leicester City boss has rarely lived up to his success at Lazio in the previous decade and, after leaving England, has had unsuccessful spells in charge of Manchester City, Mexico and the Ivory Coast.

Argentina are the most successful nation on the list with 18 managers, Marcelo Bielsa the highest in seventh (101).

The IIFHS was founded in 1984 and serves to compile statistics and records on football globally, producing rankings for individual players and club teams.

Wenger will be honoured with an award at the World Football Gala at a later date.

IFFHS – Top 10 managers 2001-2010
1. Arsene Wenger France 156

2. Sir Alex Ferguson Scotland 148

3. Jose Mourinho Portugal 135

4. Fabio Capello Italy 120

5. Guus Hiddink Holland 112

6. Carlo Ancelotti Italy 108

7. Luiz Scolari Brazil 101

Marcelo Bielsa Argentina 101

9. Rafael Benitez Spain 97

10. Marcello Lippi Italy 88

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...on-years.html?

money well spent there FIFA.

i vaguely admire the way wenger tries to get his teams playing the game, and it is impressive how many talented young players his set-up produces or buys in and brings on. and i don't judge success purely on trophies won either

but come off it ffs, he's taken a club the size of arsenal on a 5 year slide into also-ran-ness. every season they demonstrate the art of perfectly formed not quite good enoughness. they've been in transition for half a decade

this award is nearly as bizarrely contrived as the system that would have had us believe that liverpool were the top club in europe for about half of the past decade

world's best a 5 a side coach maybe.

Didn't we have this story weeks ago (titanics ahoy) - or is this *another* £#%&!ing bauble for the greatest manager in history to win absolutely doodley-squat for five whole years??

The Arsenal boss topped a table complied by the ‘International Football Federation of History & Statistics’ (IFFHS)

He would.

Wenger:
2 x Premier League
3 x FA Cup
2 x Community shield

Ferguson:
6 x Premier League
1 x FA Cup
2 x League Cup
3 x Community Shield
1 x Champions League
1 x World Club Cup

Mourinho:
2 x Portuguese League
1 x Portuguese Cup
1 x Portuguese Super Cup
2 x Premier League
1 x FA Cup
2 x League Cup
1 x Community Shield
1 x Serie A
1 x Italian Super Cup
1 x Champions League
1 x UEFA Cup

And if you include last season, Sir Alex adds another League cup and community shield, and Mourinho adds another Serie A title, another Champions League, and an Italian cup win

But yeah, Wenger best of the decade

Originally Posted by red in cumbria

Didn't we have this story weeks ago (titanics ahoy) - or is this *another* £#%&!ing bauble for the greatest manager in history to win absolutely doodley-squat for five whole years??

i thought so

Can't believe the god like genius of Benitez only came 9th

Originally Posted by JakeB

Wenger:
3 x Premier League
3 x FA Cup
2 x Community shield

Ferguson:
6 x Premier League
1 x FA Cup
2 x League Cup
3 x Community Shield
1 x Champions League
1 x World Club Cup

Mourinho:
2 x Portuguese League
1 x Portuguese Cup
1 x Portuguese Super Cup
2 x Premier League
1 x FA Cup
2 x League Cup
1 x Community Shield
1 x Serie A
1 x Italian Super Cup
1 x Champions League
1 x UEFA Cup

And if you include last season, Sir Alex adds another League cup and community shield, and Mourinho adds another Serie A title, another Champions League, and an Italian cup win

But yeah, Wenger best of the decade

Originally Posted by JakeB

Wenger:
3 x Premier League
3 x FA Cup
2 x Community shield

Ferguson:
6 x Premier League
1 x FA Cup
2 x League Cup
3 x Community Shield
1 x Champions League
1 x World Club Cup

Mourinho:
2 x Portuguese League
1 x Portuguese Cup
1 x Portuguese Super Cup
2 x Premier League
1 x FA Cup
2 x League Cup
1 x Community Shield
1 x Serie A
1 x Italian Super Cup
1 x Champions League
1 x UEFA Cup

And if you include last season, Sir Alex adds another League cup and community shield, and Mourinho adds another Serie A title, another Champions League, and an Italian cup win

But yeah, Wenger best of the decade

If you're including Portguese trophies then Fergie's achievements at Aberdeen should be included too.

Originally Posted by Tumescent Throb

i vaguely admire the way wenger tries to get his teams playing the game, and it is impressive how many talented young players his set-up produces or buys in and brings on. and i don't judge success purely on trophies won either

but come off it ffs, he's taken a club the size of arsenal on a 5 year slide into also-ran-ness. every season they demonstrate the art of perfectly formed not quite good enoughness. they've been in transition for half a decade

this award is nearly as bizarrely contrived as the system that would have had us believe that liverpool were the top club in europe for about half of the past decade

Couldn't agree more, how anybody can rate him above fergie and mourinho is laughable, however good a manager wenger is and he certainly is a top manager.

Originally Posted by Zorg

If you're including Portguese trophies then Fergie's achievements at Aberdeen should be included too.

Not had many of those in the last ten years, mate...

Originally Posted by Zorg

If you're including Portguese trophies then Fergie's achievements at Aberdeen should be included too.

It's a list of what each has won in the last decade. Well, it would be if Jake was aware that Wenger only won two titles between 200-2010

Manager of the Decade ffs

losing > winning

Originally Posted by borsuk

losing > winning

They do lovely pass and move stuff, though.

Typo corrected, happy now wafty?!

Originally Posted by The Watcher

It's a list of what each has won in the last decade. Well, it would be if Jake was aware that Wenger only won two titles between 200-2010

Manager of the Decade ffs

Well if you're going back to the year 200 Wenger's 3 Leagues and 4 FA Cups

Originally Posted by JakeB

Well if you're going back to the year 200 Wenger's 3 Leagues and 4 FA Cups

£#%&! off

Originally Posted by Wafty Crank

Not had many of those in the last ten years, mate...

Oh yeah