Robert Pires wants to help Arsenal win the Premier League by becoming club’s sporting director

ROBERT PIRES wants to be a boss at Arsenal now he’s hung up his boots.

The Frenchman has officially retired, at 43, after winding down his playing career with brief stints at Aston Villa and Goa.

The former Marseille and Villarreal man still trains with the Gunners team under Arsene Wenger – and is a club ambassador - and he has his eyes on the job of sporting director.

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With Wenger hitting 67 and with 20 years now spent at the club, his successor is a hot topic with plenty of candidates, especially from his pool of former players like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Freddie Ljungberg.

But Pires insists he isn’t interested in the gaffer’s post just yet, with the easier gig of director appealing much more.

When asked if the sporting director job is the one he wants, Pires said: “Yes, that is my objective.

“I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I need to talk about it with the owners and Arsene Wenger. I’d love this job, I love to talk with the players.

“If I’m given this job one day, I can stay in contact with football, especially with Arsenal.

“I have a good relationship with the manager, that’s important. I can work with the players, I can give advice to the young players, so we can find a good relationship between me and the players.

“I’m lucky because I’m still training with the first team sometimes. I maintain a good relation with the players and manager Arsene Wenger.

“For the moment, management is not in my plans. Thierry, Patrick and Freddie Ljungberg have a very good future as managers. But it’s not for me, at least at the moment because I don’t have a (coaching) license.

“Maybe, one day. But at the moment I’m an ambassador for the club. This is a good job. There isn’t too much pressure. I’m enjoying my new life.”