Thursday 26 April 2018 07:35, UK
Arsene Wenger's stock as a manager is "still high", according to former Arsenal striker Ray Parlour, who says the Frenchman will want a club job.
The Gunners boss announced on Friday that he would be leaving the Emirates at the end of the season after 22 years in charge, and could move on to another club in Europe.
Parlour played under Wenger for eight years, and believes that change will be good for his former manager, although he does not think the France national team would interest the 68-year-old.
"I think his stock is still very high. Loads of people might say he needs a change, himself as well," he said on The Debate.
"He's been at Arsenal for a long time and no one envisaged him being there that long. When he first turned up, if you said to me he would be there for 22 years, I would've said you were mad.
"I know he's had some bad times over the years, especially recently, but it was the Champions League and the Premier League where he has lost his way a little bit.
"I think a lot of clubs will be interested. PSG look like they might have a manager already but they will be there, he turned down Real Madrid years ago too but I doubt he will get a job like that.
"If he was a lot younger, he might want that day-to-day job on the training field but with an international job, he would be watching lots of football which he loves doing. The big question for him is if he could ever be a national manager.
"I can't see him being a national manager because he loves that day-to-day routine and coming in to train with the lads, sometimes joining in with the players.
"He loved being around the players every single day and seeing them improve under him. You wouldn't have that in a national side... and I think he would rather be a club manager."
His sentiments were echoed by fellow panelist Craig Bellamy, who believes that Wenger still has plenty to offer the game.
When asked if the Frenchman will still be coveted by top European clubs, he said: "I believe so. Your Real Madrid's are different, they're one of those few clubs and I'm not sure he'll have the opportunity to go there now.
"But just underneath that with the teams who are looking to get into the Champions League or in and around it throughout Europe, I'm sure they'll be interested in talking to him.
"He has so much to offer the game and I actually believe it could be a good change for him and exactly what he needs."
