Arsene Wenger has thanked Pat Rice for his 44 years of service at Arsenal as the club confirm that he will step down as assistant manager at the end of the season.
A Double winning right-back in 1971 and FA Cup winning captain in 1979, Rice made a total of 528 appearances for the Gunners before coaching the Youth side in the eighties.
Arsene Wenger’s right-hand man since 1996, Rice has been an understated and ever-present figure during the last 15 years and an integral part of the club’s success in domestic and european competitions.
Speaking to Arsenal.com about his relationship with his longstanding colleague, Wenger made his admiration for the former Northern Ireland international:
“Pat is a true Arsenal legend and has committed almost his whole life to Arsenal Football Club, which shows huge loyalty and devotion to this Club.
“Pat has been amazing for me over the past 16 years. When I first arrived at Arsenal, Pat was always there and taught me so much about this great club.
“I will always be indebted to him for his expert insight into Arsenal and football as a whole. On the training pitches and on matchdays, Pat has always been a passionate, loyal and insightful colleague, who we will all miss.
“Thank you Pat, we’ll miss you and all of us wish you and your family the best of health and happiness for the future. Although, we’ll still see Pat a lot, as I know he’s planning to come to all the home matches as a supporter!”
Fingers crossed the Emirates crowd will get a proper chance to thank Pat for his amazing service at the start of next season. The term ‘legend’ is banded about all too easily these days, but in this case it couldn’t be more applicable.
Pat Rice. Thank you and good luck. Your shorts and sunglasses will be missed.
For those who were not already aware, Steve Bould will be officially confirmed as the new Arsenal assistant manager in the coming days.
44 years of service…you can only do that with passion.
In times when passion is a scarce commodity, we should salute this man with the utmost respect.
For example, with a win against WBA, that should do.
Thanks Pat.
Pat Rice Mr. Arsenal,a true legend. Thank you!!!!!!
44 years! Talk about staying in one job/company in today’s world. Phenomenal achievement.
Adios, Pat; you shall be missed..
Best Pat Rice moment: http://youtu.be/-NfY3omX8MM?t=1m4s
So brilliant.
WHHEEEEEEEEEE!!!
I missed it live because I was too busy doing the exact same thing.
Absolute legend. He was a playing when I first starting going to Highbury, so I was luck enough to see him in a red-and-white shirt. Along with Nelson, Young and O’Leary he was part of a formidable back four.
Have a happy retirement, Mr Arsenal.
Same here
He’d never do it (again something that marks him out as a one-off these days), but Christ wouldn’t a warts and all account of his 44 years at the Arsenal be an incredible read?
Absolutely. But as you say, he would never do it – or would he?
That would be one hell of a book
Well he might do a tame affair, saying how wonderful it all was
but a no-holds-barred white-knuckle ride through the boozers, the skirt-chasers, the ego maniacs, the bungs, the quasi drug scandal of creatine, the new stadium, the sell out of arsenal fc to foreign owners for filthy lucre, etc etc? probably not. too much of a gent to blow the lid off
i’ll still buy it if it’s a bit quiet, because it’s pat. good luck to the man – and as posted below I do hope that the club put on a suitably one-off testimonial for him.
Thank You Pat!
Arsenal should arrange for a special game for Pat Rice at the Emirates.. It can be between Current squad vs Pat Rice’s selection of ex-players.. We need an occasion at the Emirates to say thanks & farewell to a true legend…
Spot on!
We haven’t had a ‘testamonial’ game in ages and if ever there was a man who deserved one, it’s Pat Rice……. also a chance to get Bergkamp, Wrighty, Adams et all back in the red and white ………….. Oops a bit of wee came out then, such is the excitement
I’d hope it was ex-players he played with, now that would be a game
That would be brilliant but it would be hard for them to play the full 90mins. So I would suggest 2 halves: One with Pat’s teammates and the others his selection of XI ex-players..
… I would have liked to know you, but I was just a kid.. you won the double long ago.. but your legend still remains. . ….good job and good luck Pat Rice. #thanksforeverything.
Old man grape is just a kid?
Who’da a thought it
he’s been deceiving us; he’s no old man
Has Pat ever been officially honoured by the Queen? If not its fu*king shocking and needs to be sorted.
Who cares about that old woman giving somebody an honour? Judging by the fact that a certain manager in football who has already got it….
A true Arsenal legend, thank you Pat for your great service, to our great club. I agree with Indiangooner Arsenal must arrange a special match to celebrate his great service to the club. I would certainly travel from Amman, to attend the match. Pat deserves a great send off.
One of the reasons I started supporting arsenal in the seventies. Rock solid man. Great no2. Still can’t believe the negative shit about him from some ( yes man etc). Most clubs would love to have a guy like him . He will be missed. Happy retirement. Onwards and upwards. COYG
Anyone else keen for him to have a statue, put it next to thierry’s and he can be looking over his shoulder giving him direction!
Absolute legend Pat, thank you
p.s. blogs don’t know if you will see this but my comments always are ‘awaiting conformation’? anyway after some detective work turns out one of my flatmates (stoke fan) had a go on here once bad mouthing ramsey (for which he is now homeless, no jokes). Anyway long time subscriber and first time i’ve started commenting, living in paris for a year and this is the only thing that keeps me in touch with the Arsenal, massive thanks – brilliant blog, the bible blog of arsenal…
I can sort that out
You did good by throwing that inbred Stoke cunt out of the house.
where’s he living now?
Would love to add him to my ‘things to do before I die’ list.
No 84 – Kick Stoke fan in the left testicle ….check
you might have to go for the face, his testicles put up a fight against my baseball bat as I led him out…
Doing one of the most difficult jobs for the club that he loves the most for 44 years is the reason that makes him a Legend. Will miss you Pat Rice.
Hope Pat writes a book about his times with
AFC.Would be a fascinating insight into our
great club by a man who really knows
Players to warm up in shorts and transitions lens glasses at WBA in his honour? It’s the least they could do.
didnt he take charge for 3 matches, in a caretaker capacity, before wenger arrived and won them all? ergo a 100% win record
Perfect record to retire with. No point tarnishing it
Thank you PAT.
And yes even i am looking for a testimonial on his behalf for the farewell he deserved last weekend wasnt given to him.
Legend does not do justice to Pat Rice. He is more than that.
Wenger just confirrmed bould as no.2 on sky
Banfield also stepping up to the first team. so new reserve manager and u18 managers required. though i have heard a rumour we are pulling out of the reserve league. instead playing friendlies and the next gen series whilst going back to playing the reserves and kids in the carling cup.
Well the NextGen series is of a better standard than the reserve leagues, due to it being like a mini champions league.
Playing Ajax youngsters rather than Fulham reserves makes more sense in terms of development for future games and also for pushing for a first team place
http://www.nextgenseries.com/News/Comments-and-Features/2012/April/ARSENAL-BECOME-FOURTH-NEW-TEAM – website for news on Arsenal joining it
The terms legend and loyalty are used too readily today. People talk about Terry and Gerrard as loyal servants to their clubs, but both were close to leaving for Chelsea and City respectively, until they decided they couldn’t (and their contracts renogotiated). Pat Rice just wanted to play football for our fabulous club and I thank him for his wonderful service. It wasn’t on the condition we finished 3rd or matched his ambitions. I look at our recent captains, Vieira, Cesc, Thierry and possibly Robin and feel a little annoyance that they put personal acheivement above the club, all in… Read more »
agree 100% although to be scrupulously fair we have no idea how they’d have handled it back in the 70s if they’d have been earning 100x average wage rather than 3 or 5x the average.
personally i think it’s the money that’s distorted the game and the players’ heads/morals along with it. the “winning trophies” line is the fig leaf designed to cover up the “more money” reason that lies behind it all
oh for the old days, eh
Fair point Sam, I’m suppose I’m looking at the situation through as a fan who would play for the club for free. If I was play for Villa or Everyon I suppose my attitude would be different.
villa and everton, eh?
are you martin keown?
Actually love Keown as I do, didn’t he leave over a pay issue?
yes.
guess where?
Pat Rice Arsenal Football Club will miss your ever presence.
A Pat on your back.
L-E-G-E-N-D
Thanks for everything Pat. You are my second favourite type of rice. Though I have never had you with a madras, so perhaps it is a little unfair to compare you to pilau.
I am just glad you don’t come in a tin like Ambrosia. Fuck Ambrosia.
What?
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For great arsenal moments visit this channel like kanu’s hat-trick
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheVerminator23?feature=mhee
44 years! Got the t-shirt and then some. True Arsenal legend.
For those that saw him play whose his closest modern day equivalent?
nice one Pat. Cheers for the memories
I’ll never remember what to do to my rice anymore. Your name was so informative.
Disappointed he didn’t kick the ball onto the pitch from the tunnel on Saturday!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9ZW7MYQCBM
Vintage Pat
Thanks for the memories