Arsene Wenger takes another step to change English football with PlayerMaker investment

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
Woody Rankin

Arsene Wenger is ready to come back to football, but has begun his return in perhaps a rather unexpected manner.

The former Arsenal boss, whose 22-year reign in north London came to an end last year, has invested in PlayerMaker.

The software tracks all technical, tactical, biomechanical and physical movements of players, on and off the ball, and is built in to the boot of players, who currently wear GPS devices on a vest under their shirts on matchdays and in training.

It seems a rather fitting match. The man who dragged English football from the dark ages of sports science and changed professional football in this country for good when he arrived at Arsenal in 1996, earning the nickname Le Professeur, is looking to push through a new wave in the game.

“Science can help make players stronger when used with data well,” Wenger said.

In Pictures | Arsene Wenger's 22 years at Arsenal

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“You can measure everything, after that it’s about how you use it. I believe that PlayerMaker is the best available solution to measure performance.”

Photo: Woody Rankin
Woody Rankin

PlayMaker’s technology has already been adopted by a number of clubs worldwide while, in London, they have partnered with Fulham, Millwall and Wimbledon. Perhaps there is a hope that Wenger, who joins as an operating partner as well as an investor, could put a word in back at the Emirates.

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