MX23RW : Monday, April 29 23:08:16| >> :60:453:453:

Mikel Arteta 'invites Dennis Bergkamp to become Arsenal academy coach'

Mikel Arteta 'invites Dennis Bergkamp to become Arsenal academy coach'
© Reuters
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta personally invites Dennis Bergkamp back to the club as part of their academy coaching team, according to a report.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has personally invited Dennis Bergkamp back to the club as part of their academy coaching team, according to a report.

The former Netherlands international spent 11 years on the Highbury books between 1995 and 2006, during which he was lauded as one of the Premier League's finest attacking talents.

Bergkamp clinched three Premier League titles with the North London giants - playing a pivotal role in their 2003-04 Invincibles success as Thierry Henry's main strike partner - while also helping himself to four FA Cups and three Community Shields.

From 423 appearances in an Arsenal shirt, Bergkamp scored 119 goals and provided 100 assists, and he also ended his farewell 2005-06 season with a Champions League runners-up medal.

After hanging up his boots in 2006, the 54-year-old entered the coaching landscape with boyhood club Ajax, holding a variety of roles including assistant manager, youth team manager and attacking coach.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts on December 2, 2023© Reuters

Bergkamp was sacked by Ajax in December 2017 and subsequently a few months as assistant manager for Almere City Under-21s between March and June 2019, but he has not held another role since.

Now, Football Transfers claims that the Dutchman has been offered a role in Arsenal's academy setup by Arteta, and he will "seriously consider" any offer that is made.

After four years away from the dugout, the report adds that Bergkamp is now ready to reignite his coaching career, and Arteta feels that the former PFA Players' Player of the Year winner would be an invaluable addition.

Discussions are understood to be ongoing, although all parties are yet to determine what Bergkamp's role would be, and he is yet to be formally offered a job by his old club.

However, there are suggestions that Bergkamp could be hired as a successor to another erstwhile Arsenal man Jack Wilshere, who currently serves as manager for the Gunners' Under-18s.

Jack Wilshere in training for Aarhus in February 2022© Reuters

Following his early retirement at the age of 30, Wilshere returned to North London last July and led the Under-18s to the FA Youth Cup final in his first season in charge, although Arsenal were thrashed 5-1 by West Ham United in the showpiece match.

The former England midfielder has been linked with a move away from the Emirates, though, and it was reported in October that he had held talks with MLS outfit Colorado Rapids, who have since hired Chris Armas.

Other clubs in North America and the United Kingdom are also believed to have discussed taking Wilshere on, and his departure would open the door for Bergkamp to assume office at London Colney.

Arteta compared Wilshere to another Hale End graduate in Ethan Nwaneri ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven, where the latter 16-year-old could make his European debut for the Gunners.

ID:531179:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5012:

Click here for more stories about Mikel Arteta

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Ethan Nwaneri in action for Arsenal in September 2022
Read Next:
Mikel Arteta compares Ethan Nwaneri to Jack Wilshere
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!