Jack Wilshere emotionally admitted Arsenal will ‘always be part of who I am’ as the Gunners icon left the club to join Norwich’s coaching set-up.
The 32-year-old had been Arsenal’s Under-18s head coach for the past two years but decided now was the best time to make a career move into senior football as he targets a future big role.
Wilshere is a fan-favourite at the Emirates after bursting onto the scene as a breakthrough academy talent under Arsene Wenger only to have his playing career cruelly cut short by injuries.
The former midfielder once starred on the Champions League stage against Barcelona‘s best but retired form playing football professionally in 2022 aged 30, having last played in the Danish Superliga for AFG.
Since then he has been cutting his coaching teeth in Arsenal’s youth set-up, guiding the young Gunnners to an FA Youth Cup Final in his first season, and now bidding farewell as he makes the switch to Norwich.
Jack Wilshere emotionally admitted Arsenal will ‘always be part of who I am’ as the Gunners icon left the club
Wilshere became a fan-favourite during his playing years at Arsenal that were cruelly curtailed by injury
Wilshere has left his position as Arsenal’s Under-18 coach to join Norwich’s senior set-up
Posting a heartfelt goodbye to his boyhood club, Wilshere hailed the ‘incredibly special bond’ he has developed with players and staff around the club and signed off with an intention to return in the future.
‘I’ve loved every minute of my time as Under-18s head coach and would like to thank Edu, Per, Mikel, my colleagues in the academy and everyone at the club for their fantastic support during my time in the role,’ he said.
‘As everyone knows, Arsenal is and always will be part of who I am, and the club means so much to me. However, this opportunity has come at the right time to progress my coaching career within a first-team environment.
‘I have an incredibly special bond with the players and staff at Arsenal, and am so proud of the work we have done as a collective over the last two-and-a-half years. It’s been a privilege to have been involved in the development and progression of such a special group, and I’ll be continuing to watch and support from afar.
‘The future is exciting both for the academy players and the club, and I know the group I’ve been working with will continue to progress and have the potential to achieve great things.
Wilshere admitted he has plans to return to Arsenal in the future as he said goodbye to the club
‘I’d like to thank everyone at Arsenal Football Club for their support and understanding in my decision and wish everybody at the club the very best for the future. This club will always be close to my heart and for me, this is a ‘see you again’ rather than ‘goodbye’.’
Arsenal and Norwich have agreed a compensation package for Wilshere, and the former England international is expected to join-up with his new team at Carrow Road this Thursday.