Arsenal

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

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 12 December 2023

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.