Arsenal ambassador and club legend Robert Pires has signalled his intent to become a future sporting director at the club claiming he would be the right candidate for the role. Pires has been in constant talk with the club, its players and his former manager as he occasionally trains with Arsenal first team, claiming he has a brilliant relationship with the organisation in general. Pires had also plied his trade in India with ISL side FC Goa, after his illustrious career in Europe.
Pires, now retired from the game is an ambassador for the Gunners and the sport as he prepares for his next stint in the beautiful game of football. Pires believes and hopes to become the North London club's sporting director claiming he has all the attributes to perform in the job in the future.
"Yes, that is my objective to become Arsenal's sporting director," Pires was quoted as saying by The Sun.
"I don't know what will happen in the future, but I need to talk about it with the owners and Arsene Wenger. I'd love this job; I love to talk with the players. If I'm given this job one day, I can stay in contact with football, especially with Arsenal.
"I have a good relationship with the manager; that's important. I can work with the players; I can give advice to the young players so that we can find a good relationship between the players and me.”
A player for six seasons at the Gunner’s and part of the famous Invincibles team, Pires claims the sporting director role suits him insisting the pressure of being a football manager is too much. While claiming the manager's role isn’t for him at the moment, Pires was quick not to rule out the situation insisting once he obtains his coaching license he would consider stepping into management.
"For the moment, management is not in my plans," Pires said. "Thierry, Patrick and Freddie Ljungberg have a very good future as managers. But it's not for me, at least at the moment because I don't have a [coaching] licence.
"Maybe, one day. But at the moment I'm an ambassador for the club. This is a good job. There isn't too much pressure. I'm enjoying my new life.”
Despite Pires leaving the Gunners in 2006 after the Champions League defeat to Barcelona in an angry fashion, the player claims the past is in the past. With the former player anxious to continue working with Gunners youth team coach Freddie Ljungberg, manager Arsene Wenger and the entire Arsenal team including the backroom staff working for the club, the future at Arsenal looks bright with former legends and players taking a huge interest to improve the club.
