Did Arsene Wenger reject the chance to be Fulham manager?

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is said to have rejected the chance to become Fulham manager [Courtesy]

Could Arsene Wenger have managed a side in the relegation zone? 

According to various news outlets across Europe, the former Arsenal boss rejected a chance to become Fulham manager before the club eventually turned to former Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri. 

Wenger, on April 20, announced that he would step down at the end of the 2017/18 season after he managed the Gunners for close to 22 years. He is yet to take up a new position.

He hinted of a possible return to management in January, saying he may be ‘ready to work again’ following rumours that he was going to take charge of a Champions League club.

I believe I'll start working again in January - Wenger [Courtesy]

"I believe that [I'll] start again on January 1. I don't know yet. I am rested, and I am ready to work again. There are associations, national teams, it could be also in Japan,” Wenger told German tabloid Bild.

On Tuesday, November 14, Fulham finally sacked Serbian Slavisa Jokanovic following a streak of poor underwhelming performances and replaced him with Ranieri.

The Cottagers, currently bottom of the Premier League, have only five points after 12 matches.

The 67-year-old title-winning boss has been given a multi-year contract and will take over at Craven Cottage for the rest of the season.

Fulham turned to Claudio Ranieri instead [Courtesy]

According to Fulham chairman Shahid Khan, making any managerial changes without having the right succession plan was not in their thoughts.

"Making a change without having the right answer or succession plan was not an option," said Khan.

He termed Claudio’s appointment as ‘essential’ to the club’s ambitions. He also praised Ranieri’s style of play – which made him win the league with Leicester City in 2015/16.

"Claudio is risk-free and ready-made for the Premier League, and particularly so for what we need at this moment at Fulham.

"His recent body of work with Leicester City is literally legendary, and then you look at Claudio's experience with Chelsea and big clubs throughout Europe, and it's pretty evident we are welcoming an extraordinary football man to Fulham Football Club," he explained.

Ranieri, in response to Khan’s comments, said it is an honour to be appointed Fulham boss, lauding the club’s fantastic history.

The Fulham board got fed up with Jokanovic's slump [Courtesy]

"It is an honour to accept Mr Khan's invitation and opportunity to lead Fulham, a fantastic club with tradition and history," said Ranieri.

He vowed to make Fulham a hard club to beat, considering the amount of talent he now has at his disposal.

“The objective should never be to merely survive in the Premier League. We must at all times be a difficult opponent and should expect to succeed. This squad has exceptional talent that is contrary to its position in the table," he added.

Fulham host Southampton on November 24 – This will Ranieri’s first game in charge.