JACK WILSHERE has opted against returning to Arsenal as an academy coach as he looks to pursue a senior manager role.
The 33-year-old was previously the Gunners’ U18s boss – guiding them to the FA Youth Cup final back in April 2023 before joining Norwich as an assistant coach in October 2024.
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After leaving the Canaries by mutual consent back in April – having briefly been interim boss – Wilshere has been on the hunt for his next job, eyeing another EFL club to get his management career up and running.
Arsenal are currently looking for a new U21s coach after losing Mehmet Ali to Brentford’s backroom team, and Wilshere was approached for a Hale End return.
Wilshere’s role would have involved the U21s as well as a wider remit in player development.
But now, Arsenal are believed to be close to permanently appointing Max Porter – the 39-year-old has been at the academy since 2017 and has been in interim charge of the U21s.
Wilshere remains highly regarded by the Arsenal academy, especially in his role developing Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly before becoming first-team stars, as well as 15-year-old Max Dowman.
Mikel Arteta enjoyed having Wilshere at the club to bridge the gap between Hale End and the seniors, with the latter spending time training with the first team.
Wilshere made 197 appearances for Arsenal as a player between 2008 and 2018 before spells at Bournemouth, West Ham and Danish side Aarhus.
He is no stranger to the youth setup at Arsenal, having come through the academy at the club after joining at the age of nine.
Arsenal’s transfer deals
IN
- Viktor Gyökeres – from Sporting Lisbon – £72m
- Noni Madueke – from Chelsea – £52m
- Martin Zubimendi – from Real Sociedad – £51m
- Christian Norgaard – from Brentford – £15m
- Cristhian Mosquera – from Valencia – £13m
- Kepa Arrizabalaga – from Chelsea – £5m
TOTAL – £208m
OUT
- Nuno Taveres – to Lazio – £4.4m
- Marquinhos – to Cruzeiro – £2.6m
- Jorginho – to Flamengo – free
- Kieran Tierney – to Celtic – free
- Takehiro Tomiyasu – released
- Thomas Partey – released
TOTAL – £7m
ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE
He was once touted as one of Europe‘s most promising young stars when he became Arsenal’s youngest-ever league debutant at age 16.
But injury issues hampered his career development and, despite significant showings in the Champions League for Arsenal and his inclusion in England’s 2014 World Cup squad, he became one of the game’s biggest ‘what-ifs’.
Wilshere reportedly interviewed for the manager role at Plymouth in June, but the position was given to former Man Utd midfielder Tom Cleverley.
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