Sometime last season, reports suggested Arsenal’s long serving no.2 and former club player Pat Rice was taking a forced bow from the backroom staff set up as he was struggling with a chronic knee condition. The reports also suggested he was to take his leave at the end of last season, but a plea and subsequent conviction from long time friend and boss Arsene Wenger made him delay his retirement for one more season.
Having begun his footballing career in 1964 as an apprentice with Arsenal, before going professional in 1966 and being a member of the double winning team in the ’71 season, Rice departed for Watford for a four-year spell before calling time on his playing career in 1984.
He subsequently returned to Arsenal in the same year as youth team coach before taking over as caretaker manager after Stewart Houston resigned prior to the hiring of Wenger in 1996.
Rice was appointed assistant manager to the Frenchman and held this post until the conclusion of the current campaign. He has been an integral part of Wenger’s reign at the helm of affairs and he is one to be sorely missed.
Born in Belfast in 1949, Rice spent 44 years in loyal service to the Arsenal, and took his place on the bench for the last time for the club against West Brom last week. As youth team coach, he twice won the FA Youth Cup and seven trophies as assistant to Wenger.
As his retirement was confirmed, everyone wondered who his replacement would be and it was of little surprise when Wenger named another from within the Arsenal set up to take over from Mr. Rice. This being Steve Bould.
Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Bould played for hometown club Stoke City through his youth career and subsequently joined and played in the senior side for eight years between 1980 and 1988, he also endured a loan spell at Torquay United in 1982 before moving to Arsenal in 1988. His playing career with the Gunners ended in 1999 and he ended up at Sunderland before calling it quits in 2000.
As the Arsenal youth manager, Bould won the Premier League Academy Award twice and led his side to the FA Youth Cup.
Many have hailed the appointment of Bould to assistant to Wenger as the right choice, as he has done a great job as the youth coach of Arsenal football club. In deciding whether the appointment of Bould is the right choice, one must consider many variables relating to this. Like Rice, Bould for one has been with Arsenal firstly as a player before he went ahead to coach the youth team. His time with the youth setup has seen some senior players pass through his tutelage and he’ll have some familiarity with them now that he is going to be working with the senior side. The time Bould has spent in service to the club and most importantly with Wenger as a player then as a coach means the Stoke-on-Trent-born defender will have a good understanding of the Frenchman’s philosophy and style of play, and this should suit the coaching set up in Arsenal. Thus this should be a seamless transition for Bould from youth coach to assistant manager and also from Rice to Bould for Wenger. Another factor to consider is his experience as a defender and the fact that this present crops greatest undoing is their defensive frailties under pressure.
I reckon his addition will bring more defensive steel into the team, as he will have more time and impact directly with the senior set up. Considering his age as well, he could be a potential replacement for the Wiley Frenchman as well as. His age of 49 puts him in the same age range of the likes of Jose Mourinho or, better yet, modern day managers.
Overall I think the appointment of Bould is a statement of intent on the long-term front and seriousness of the Arsenal hierarchy to continue with the club’s present philosophy. This appointment, or move, in my opinion, answers the question ‘who will replace Arsene Wenger’. I’ve always said replacing Wenger would be best from within the club.
I truly believe Bould’s appointment is a step in the right direction, and it would only be a win-win situation for the club and all concerned.
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Lolzzz……. All ur comments makes me laugh…. ‘Inability as a manager’ re u kidin me. Did he jst gain dat attribute or wat. So all dore trophies he won re stil part of his inability as a manager? ‘wengers failed philosofy’ dis same faile philosofy brought abt d *invincibles* do u guyz even knw wat u sayin????
I have high hopes that Steve Bould’s appointment will mean our defence will be better organised.
Have to admit, Bould being Wenger’s replacement has never entered my head till reading your article.
My faith in Wenger has drained and still can not believe the shinanagans that went on last summer during the transfer window.
However I will admit guiding us to 3rd after the dismal start, faith has been upped since last September but nowhere near to the levels 5 or 6 years ago.
World class players have to come in but I’m afraid it won’t happen and once again we will be fighting it out for 3rd or 4th place next season, which aint good enough to keep RVP and so he will move on, hopefully giving us time to invest the transfer fee wisely on top players and not facing the same sceneario as last summer which was a total clusterf**k.
If wenger didnt listen to anyone then he wouldnt appoint them, and he wouldnt talk about pat rice in such a passionate way.
Steve bould will do well and have a slight effect on the way wenger thinks, and thats all he needs a slight effect.
Wenger is exceptional at planning an attacking team, bould will give him that slight defensive influence. Arsene wenger isnt an idiot and neither is Bould.
Give them a chance and get behind them. They’ll work wonders for the club.