Oleksandr Zinchenko names Arsenal player who will be ‘best manager’

Oleksandr Zinchenko has named the Arsenal player he believes has the best chance of becoming a manager in the future.

The Gunners are currently coached by a popular former player in the shape of Mikel Arteta, who made 150 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions between 2011 and 2016, winning two FA Cups and two Community Shields.

Arteta took his place in the Emirates dugout in December 2019 after a spell as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, leading the club to an FA Cup, two Community Shields and two successive Premier League runners-up finishes.

Players such as Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell and Tony Adams are among Arsène Wenger’s other former players who became managers, albeit with varying degrees of success.

Which Arsenal player has the best chance of becoming manager?

Although Zinchenko is still only 27 years old, there is no doubt that he shows the tactical acumen to one day make the transition to coaching. And it is not as if he is short of mentors, having played under both Guardiola and Arteta.

The Ukrainian is now focusing on making the most of his active career, but he did not name which of his current teammates he thinks is best suited for a career in management.

“Well, I hope it will be a long time,” Zinchenko told Arsenal’s official website. “I hope to have a lot more time as a footballer, but yes, I keep in mind that maybe one day I can become a coach. I really want to stay in football, but I don’t know how yet, to be honest.

“I’ve learned from all the managers I’ve worked with in my career. They’re all different and have different things about them, but what they all are is demanding. So demanding, they’re obsessed with winning games.

“Right now I would say that the man in the squad who would be the best manager of the future is Jorginho. He has the best football brain. Everything he says really works, and I learn from him too.”