Jack Wilshere lands new top job one year after Arsenal exit

Jack Wilshere has been announced as the new manager of Luton Town.

It comes after Matt Bloomfield was sacked by the Hatters last week after nine months in charge, leaving the club 11th in the League One standings with five wins and five losses from the season's opening 11 matches. In a statement, Luton said: "Performances and results from the opening 11 matches of the current campaign in League One have fallen below the levels expected."

Alex Lawless was put in charge as an interim manager in the wake of Bloomfield's departure, overseeing a 3-1 loss to League Two's Cambridge United on Tuesday evening in the EFL Trophy. However, Arsenal legend Wilshere has now been announced as the side's new head coach.

In an official announcement, the club said: "We are excited to announce the return of Jack Wilshere to Luton Town Football Club as our new first-team manager. The 33-year-old is back at the club where it all started for him in our Centre of Excellence, before joining Arsenal at the age of nine and embarking on an elite playing career that saw him win 34 England caps.

"Wilshere, who has held coaching positions in the Arsenal academy, as well as a short spell as Norwich City interim manager at the tail end of last season, is eager to get down to business at the club where he started his footballing journey as a youngster."

Wilshere added: "It’s a huge honour and a privilege to be named Luton Town manager. It feels like a full-circle moment for me.

"I was eight when I first came to Luton as a boy, so I guess you could say it’s fate that my first full-time club managerial position is at this club. I couldn’t be more delighted to be here – I can’t wait to manage this football club."

After an incredible 10-year stint with the Gunners between 2008 and 2018, in which he racked up 14 goals and 28 assists from 197 matches, Wilshere moved on to West Ham in 2018. After a two year stint in east London, the central midfielder then joined AFC Bournemouth, before joining Aarhus Gymnastikforening in 2022.

Wilshere made just 14 appearances for the Danish outfit, before calling time on a stunning playing career in the July of the same year. Just four days later, however, the now 33-year-old took up tenure as the head coach of Arsenal's U18 side to transition into the world of management.

He was able to lead the side to the final of the 2022/23 FA Youth Cup during his first season in charge, where Arsenal ultimately lost to West Ham. However, last October, Wilshere parted ways with north London once more to join Norwich City as a first-team coach under Johannes Hoff Thorup.

When the Dane was dismissed after a poor run of form in April, Wilshere was named the Canaries' interim manager before Liam Manning was appointed as the club's new head coach in June.

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.