Wenger: why I turned down France

Arsène Wenger has revealed for the first time that he was offered the post of French manager earlier this summer. The proposal came in the wake of France's surprise first-round exit in the World Cup, where the 1998 champions lost two of their three group matches.

"I was, of course, in touch with the chairman of the French Football Federation," the Arsenal manager said. "I was approached, but I never considered taking the job."

Wenger's revelations are enlightening, if only because the then French manager, Roger Lemerre, had not announced his retirement at that time. He was sacked late last month and replaced by the former Lyon coach Jacques Santini after the Federation considered a shortlist of four.

Wenger, who had made his position clear to the French Federation chairman, Claude Simonet, in the Far East, was not on it. "I refused because I felt I still had a lot to achieve with Arsenal. It has taken a lot of hard work to put my team together, so I want to be successful. I felt I had more goals to achieve with this club."

Wenger admitted he might one day consider managing his country. Having never broken a contract, though, French fans should not expect the double Double winner's arrival until 2005. Simonet, in a further twist, is sternly denying Wenger's comments.