Legendary former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has now named the best manager he ever worked with, and his answer will surprise many.
Ian Wright is an Arsenal icon.
He achieved great things for the club, under the management of both George Graham, and latterly Arsene Wenger.
With Graham at the helm, Wright was a key figure in the Arsenal sides that won the FA Cup in 1993, the League Cup in the same year, and the European Cup winners’ Cup in 1994. The 60-year-old added a Premier League title and another FA Cup winners’ medal to his collection as the Gunners did the double in 1998, with Wenger in charge. However, Wright recently revealed that he provoked Wenger’s ire shortly before he left the club.
Wright is an Arsenal legend and will always be a fan-favourite at the Emirates Stadium. He also still keeps a close eye on goings on at the club, and was supporting Mikel Arteta’s side in their Premier League title push last season.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright puts Steve Coppell above Arsene Wenger and George Graham
However, when it comes to his own playing career, there is one manager who Wright feels he owes more to than either Graham or Wenger.
Speaking to GQ, the 33-cap former England international was asked to name the best manager he worked with in his playing days, and he said: “Probably my first manager Steve Coppell, ‘cause he took me straight off the building site and turned me into a professional footballer. Turned me into an England international. Steve Coppell, man. I salute you.”
Why Arsenal icon Ian Wright owes so much to Steve Coppell
Steve Coppell was in charge of Crystal Palace when Wright made his breakthrough into professional football. The forward was a latecomer to the highest level of the game. Having been overlooked by the academy system, Wright was still playing Sunday league football at the age of 21.
After impressing in a brief stint at semi-professional level, Wright was invited for a trial with Crystal Palace, where he caught the eye of Coppell. The Eagles offered him professional terms as he approached his 22nd birthday, in 1985, and the rest is history.
Wright impressed for the South London outfit and joined the Gunners in 1991. He went on to score 185 goals in 288 games for Arsenal, across all competitions, making him the top goalscorer in the club’s history, before his record was eclipsed by Thierry Henry.
Whilst Wright may have won silverware with Wenger and Graham, the true success of his career is owed to Coppell.