Arsenal academy chief Andries Jonker poised to be named Wolfsburg manager
Arsenal will be forced to find a new academy chief after Andries Jonker agreed to take over as Wolfsburg manager.
Jonker has replaced Valérien Ismaël, who was sacked on Sunday, having previously been assistant manager at Wolfsburg for two years before moving to the Emirates. He has taken former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who was coaching the Under-15s, with him..
Dutchman Jonker, who was also assistant at Barcelona, was appointed head of Arsenal’s academy by chief executive Ivan Gazidis in 2014.
But, having been given the task of overhauling the club’s youth set up, Arsenal’s academy has shown little progress under the stewardship of Jonker.
Sources have claimed for some time that Jonker and Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger did not see eye to eye on a number of subjects – one of whom was club legend Thierry Henry.
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Jonker offered Henry the job of coaching Arsenal’s Under-18s last summer, only for Wenger to overrule the decision.
Arsenal then handed Tony Adams the chance to take up a position with the Under-18s, only for the former defender to leave midway through his trial period to accept a lucrative job in China instead.
The way in which the situation was taken out of his hands was embarrassing for Jonker and may well have played a part in him opting to return to Germany as Wolfsburg manager.
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Although Jonker’s departure is in no way significant to the future of Wenger, it further adds to the feeling of uncertainty and change around Arsenal.
Arsenal denied claims Law has already decided that he will leave at the end of the season, but suggestions remain that his future is in doubt with his close ally Wenger yet to agree a new contract.
