5 Premier League managers who were ridiculed for their appointment, but turned out successful

2) Arsene Wenger: Arsenal

Not many had heard of Arsene Wenger when Arsenal appointed him in 1996

“At first, I thought, ‘What does this Frenchman know about football? He wears glasses and looks more like a schoolteacher. He's not going to be as good as George [Graham]. Does he even speak English properly?’” – Arsenal legend Tony Adams

The former Arsenal captain has no qualms about admitting that he judged the man who eventually extended his career too quickly when the French manager was appointed in September 1996. In fact, nobody knew who Wenger was except for a few well-versed in French football.

After all, what manager arrives in the Premier League from Japanese club Nagoya Grampus Eight? “Arsene Who?” became the catchphrase as foreign managers were despised for their lack of “Britishness”.

But this ignorance was only limited to England. George Weah, the first African to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1995, had actually handed the award to Wenger that night on stage claiming: “Arsene Wenger made me not just the player I am today, but also the man I am.”

Over the next few years, Wenger set about transforming the club and soon gave Arsenal its first Premier League title (it’s 11^th top division title overall). What's more, he even led the club to two doubles in 1997/98 and 2001/02 before creating the greatest English side ever – the 2003/04 Invincibles that went an entire season unbeaten.

Arsene Wenger led Arsenal through an unbeaten season in 2003/04 to win the title

His frugality and husbandry also saw them successfully negotiate a move to a larger stadium while simultaneously qualifying for the Champions League every season.

Before Wenger was signed, Johan Cruyff was a candidate but the board backed former vice-chairman David Dein when that deal did not materialise. And they will be eternally grateful to the Professor who nobody knew a thing about in 1996.