Per Mertesacker has thanked Jack Wilshere for his service after Arsenal confirmed the 32-year-old has joined Norwich City as a first-team coach.
The former England international has spent two years working with the club’s under-18s and will now move to Carrow Road to continue his coaching development.
Mertesacker and Wilshere studied for the Uefa B Licence alongside each other while they were still playing under Arsene Wenger in 2017 and the German, who was later appointed manager of the Arsenal Academy, was quick to recruit his friend when he hung up his playing boots in 2022 following spells with West Ham, Bournemouth and Aarhus.
“Jack’s development as a coach over the past two seasons has been really impressive,” Mertesacker told Arsenal.com.
“Jack has represented Arsenal in the best possible way, both as a player and in his role as an academy coach.
“Of course, we are all sad to see Jack leave, but we are so proud that we have played a positive part in his development into the next stage of his career as a young coach.
“We wish Jack and his family well at Norwich City, and his many friends here will be keeping in close contact with him as his journey in coaching continues.”
Arsenal went out of their way to support Wilshere as he struggled through the final period of his playing career, battling fitness and mental health issues. He was invited to train with the first team and while doing so was offered chances to work with the club’s youngsters. He hasn’t looked back and is thankful for the opportunities and support.
Ahead of his exit, he said: “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.
“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’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’.”
Best of luck to Jack, we’ll be curious to see how he fares at Norwich.
In his place, Adam Birchall, Wilshere’s assistant, has been promoted to head coach of the under-18s. Having played for the academy and spent the last 10 years coaching at Hale End, he’s certainly well-placed to step up. Good luck to him.
My Brother @adam_birchall10
The players and staff are lucky to have you lead them! Good luck mate. Until we meet again ❤️ https://t.co/OQy0RPjvfA— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) October 23, 2024
All the best Jack.
Hopefully a success at Norwich and comes back to us afterwards.
Best wishes Jack and good luck Adam
Who is down voting this? Why?
It’s great he’s going to manage the team he scored perhaps his most iconic goal against. It would be amazing if Jack can become a great manager and come back to do us proud one day.
Best of luck to him. I’m sure his football brain is far superior to the likes of Rooney, Lampard and Gerrard.
He’s not becoming Norwich manager, he’s joining as one of their first-team coaches.
If Ornstein does Ornbombs, does Allen to Allendmines?
And Andrew could do Mangrenades?
I knew it would be worth reading the comments
Obviously Tom would do the aTom Bomb.
A MoloTim Cocktail for the Stillmanator?
Suggestions welcome!
Thanks for making it clearer. It’s a step on the way though isn’t it, being part of the management/coaching team. He can keep learning and maybe take the reins one day and become a manager. That’s my point.
Was going to make a joke about how that’s a low bar and his football brain would only need to the level of a mollusk to be superior to Rooney’s. But that would be unfair, Rooney’s football brain was actually pretty intelligent, it’s the rest of his brain that’s comparable to a that of a sea cucumber.
His brain has layers
Like an Ogre or an Onion?
Bad Scottish accent “bof”
apparently my typing/spelling brain is comparable with a mussel
Hurts to see him go but like in any other walk of life, good firms don’t stand in the way / make things difficult for employees when they receive cool opportunities to advance their career.
First team coaching at championship club is certainly a step up for Jack’s career. Lets see how working under a young and somewhat inexperienced head coach turns out for him.
Does anyone else remember Wilshere’s formative Arsenal days? Now he’s leaving, aged 32…. Christ I feel old!
It’s so sad! He should still be playing for us.
He wants to come back. Arteta, watch out !
At least he didn’t resign to be a commentator for more money like Henry.
Thierry took the french olympic team to the final, corrected all his weaknesses especially the man management side then resigned to make money on TV. If I was the owner or a club president, I would not want him as my coach.
Titi is more proficient at English than most English commentators. Also the French Olympic gig is by definition a temporary one, so you can’t really say he quit when the games were over.
Henry doesn’t owe you, or anyone else, a damned thing. And certainly not any Arsenal fan. I go to work to make money. I would prefer a job that let me have regular hours, and time with my family. I would actively avoid any job that meant that millions of despicable people hurled insults and threats at me and my family. Maybe (Like our Ben White) he thinks there’s more to life than just football. To me, as a father and a family man, it’s a completely understandable – in fact sound and commendable – decision. If you’ve been involved… Read more »
Maybe he can teach Norwich how to score *that* goal as a way of life coming full circle
I think the only place they teach at that level is Hogwarts 🙂
but that surely means it would be against Arsenal, and we’d never hear the end of how whoever scored it is the greatest of all time, and 115 will pay 120 million for him to sit on the bench.
Jack’s hittin the road.
Sniff