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London - Robert Pires says Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is not suited to international football and hopes he stays at the Gunners beyond his current contract.
The 66-year-old Frenchman, who has been in charge of the
Gunners for 20 years, is one of a number of candidates being considered for the
England job following Sam Allardyce's dismissal.
But Pires, who played under Wenger at Arsenal from 2000 to
2006 and now occupies a coaching role at the club, says the day-to-day business
of running a club is what drives his former manager's passions.
He explained: "A lot of people want to see Arsene
Wenger as the manager of England but he has a contract with Arsenal, I don't
know what happens at the end of the season but I understand the fans in
England, they need a manager like Arsene Wenger, he is a great person and a
great manager.
"The situation is simple, Wenger is the manager for
Arsenal. I know him, he wants to go to the pitch every morning.
"This is the most important (thing for him). If he
takes this job, it's not the same. So, for the moment I cannot imagine Wenger
work for England. This is my opinion.
"I see Arsene. He loves the pitch every morning. This
is like an obsession, it's a passion. You know 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.
"If you ask me, I hope he continues with Arsenal
because since 20 years he built something at Arsenal, he won a lot of titles. I
think Arsenal need Arsene Wenger.
"Arsene Wenger loves Arsenal and this is the last season because his contract finishes, I don't know what happens but it would be a good opportunity for England, I don't know (if it would be) for Arsene Wenger."
