Arsene Wenger’s 20 years at Arsenal: From Sir Alex Ferguson to Gerry Francis, where are all his rival managers now?
SunSport looks at the rival bosses that were around when Wenger was unveiled by Gunners chiefs on October 1, 1996
AS ARSENE WENGER celebrates his 20th anniversary as Arsenal boss, SunSport looks at what became of the men managing rival Premier League teams when the Frenchman was unveiled by Gunners chiefs on October 1, 1996.
And how much has changed in those 20 years.
Two decades ago there was only one non-British manager in the entire league - Chelsea's Ruud Gullit.
The contrast could not be starker to today, with only SEVEN British managers in the Premier League, with only four of them English, the same number as Italian managers.
SIR ALEX FERGUSON
RETIRED in May 2013 after 27 trophy-laden years as Manchester United boss. Now a club ambassador at Old Trafford.
RON ATKINSON
QUIT as boss to be a pundit but used a racial slur on TV in 2004.
GERRY FRANCIS
FIRST of many Spurs bosses to be seen off by Wenger in 1997. Now a coach at West Brom.
RAY HARFORD
RESIGNED from Blackburn days after Wenger's arrival. Died of cancer in 2003.
BRIAN LITTLE
QUIT as Aston Villa boss in 1998 and is now an advisor to Villa Park's new board.
HARRY REDKNAPP
BRIEFLY coached Jordan national team having left his role at QPR last year. Struck up a rivalry with Wenger while Spurs manager - while the pair managed some epic North London derbies.
JOE ROYLE
WALKED out on Everton in 1997 but he now works for the club behind the scenes.
FRANK CLARK
AXED as Forest boss in 1996 after following Brian Clough. Appointed club chairman in 2011 but sacked again in 2013.
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RUUD GULLIT
GOT boot from Chelsea in 1998. The only foreign Prem boss when Wenger arrived.
KEVIN KEEGAN
EX-NEWCASTLE and England manager now works as an occasional TV pundit. Also had stints as England boss as well as Fulham and Manchester City.
DAVID PLEAT
SACKED in 1997 by Sheffield Wednesday and now a scout at Tottenham. Has also performed broadcasting duties.
PETER REID
SUNDERLAND saviour until sacked in 2002. Coaching at Bolton until last summer.
JIM SMITH
THE Bald Eagle quit as Derby boss in 2001 when asked to move upstairs. Now retired.
ROY EVANS
LEFT Liverpool in 1998 when joint-boss with Gerard Houllier. Now a Kop pundit.
GEORGE GRAHAM
GOT sack from Arsenal a year before Wenger arrived. Leeds boss until 1998 and now a pundit.
JOE KINNEAR
QUIT Wimbledon in June 1999 following heart problems and is now retired. Was briefly director of football at Newcastle.
MARTIN O'NEILL
LEFT Leicester in 2000. Only one of Wenger's contemporaries still working in management - currently in charge of Republic of Ireland national team.
BRYAN ROBSON
OLD TRAFFORD legend was sacked by Middlesbrough in 2000. Now an ambassador for Manchester United.
GRAEME SOUNESS
ONE season at Southampton then fell out with chairman Rupert Lowe. Now an outspoken pundit on Sky Sports' Premier League coverage.
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