Jack Wilshere: Former Arsenal and England midfielder appointed Gunners' U18 head coach

Jack Wilshere is the new head coach of the U18 team.

During his time at the club, Wilshere made over 200 appearances and won the FA Cup twice. He ended his playing career at the age of 30 on Friday, a day after he left AGF.

This will be Wilshere's first official coaching position and he spent time last year working with the young players.

He said it was a huge honor to have the role. I love this club so much. Some of the best days of my life were spent in this academy and I adore what we stand for.

I'm ready for this opportunity. I can't wait to help these young players thrive and be the best they can be on and off the field.

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It's a privilege to be a part of the family. Even though I moved on, my heart was still at the club. I can't wait to start working with the young players on the team.

Wilshere's five best career moments

• That night against Barcelona – Arsenal were pitted against one of the best Barcelona sides of all-time, with a 19-year-old Wilshere tasked with coming up against Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi. Against the nippy tiki taka football, Wilshere showed grit, trickery and an equal level of technical guile as Arsene Wenger’s side won 2-1 in one of the best nights in their recent history.
• Goal of the season against Norwich – Wilshere didn’t score many across his career, but when he did it was special. His best in the Premier League was a beautiful one-touch team goal against Norwich in 2013, which saw him combine beautifully with Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud, which won goal of the season – an award he won a year later for a crashing effort against West Bromwich Albion.
• Dominating Brazil – Wilshere made his England debut in 2010 but had to wait three years to become a Three Lions regular. He was awarded man of the match against Brazil in 2013 to announce himself on the international stage, playing a major role in England’s opener in a 2-1 victory – the Three Lions’ first win over the Selecao in nearly a quarter of a century. The biggest indication he would be England’s future.
• Helping Arsenal win the FA Cup – it’s the second half of extra-time in the 2014 FA Cup final and Arsenal are locked in a 2-2 draw against Hull. Wilshere has been brought on in the brief Wembley interval and within four minutes, he plays a role in the winning goal. Wilshere’s incisive pass fell into the path of Yaya Sanogo, who played the ball into Olivier Giroud. The French forward’s flick found Aaron Ramsey in the box, who prodded home the winner. Wilshere’s intervention helped Arsenal end a run of nine years without a trophy, with the midfielder helping the Gunners to the same trophy a year later, also off the bench.
• Saving England vs Slovenia – The Three Lions were 1-0 down away to Slovenia in a Euro 2016 qualifier in June 2015, when Wilshere took the game by the scruff of the neck. The midfielder scored two epic long-range efforts to put England back in front, with Roy Hodgson’s side winning the vital contest 3-2.

Wilshere will be supported by Birchall, who was the head coach of the U16s.

The manager of the academy said that the appointment of Wilshere was good news. We have made a number of positive changes in the last few weeks and I believe that we have the best people here to build on the progress that we've made in the past.

Everyone knows that Jack is a huge fan of the club. He impressed us last year because he understood what we wanted to achieve here. He knows how to get to the first team.

Jack Wilshere’s injury nightmare

• Ankle injury: November 2009 – 12 days – 4 games missed
• Sprained ankle: July 2011 – 56 days – 10 games missed
• Ankle surgery: September 2011 – 127 days – 25 games missed
• Fatigue fracture: February 2012 – 104 days – 19 games missed
• Knee surgery: May 2012 – 125 days – 6 games missed
• Hairline crack in foot: March 2014 – 57 days – 11 games missed
• Ankle injury: November 2014 – 90 days – 19 games missed
• Hairline crack in fibula: August 2015 – 247 days – 47 games missed
• Hairline crack in fibula: April 2017 – 112 days – 1 game missed
• Ankle injury: September 2018 – 82 days – 11 games missed
• Ankle surgery: December 2018 – 138 days – 22 games missed
• Groin injury: October 2019 – 221 days – 22 games missed
• Calf injury: September 2020 – 11 days – 4 games missed

Mehmet Ali, an assistant coach for the U23s, has been promoted to head coach of the U21s and lead the club's professional development phase. Max Porter is a member of the U18s.

Analysis: Why Wilshere's thrilling talent will endure

Sky sports' Nick Wright.

It is a sad end to a career that promised so much, but Jack Wilshere's performance in the win over Barcelona in February of 2011 will always be remembered by those who saw it.

Wilshere was only 19 months old. He was the youngest player on the field at the time. The exhibition against the greatest club side in history was an example of technical brilliance.

He was on his own at the base of the center of the field. He was haring after the twoquets, then moving away from them, the crowd, and the opponent.

By the end of the game, he had completed 43 out of 46 passes and only Messi had made more dribbles.

Nick Wright wrote a feature on Jack Wilshere.

'Exceptional talent, but didn't play enough games'

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Sky Sports News has a interview with a former manager of a football team.

Jack is an exceptional football player, he has first not to thank us but himself as he was brave, talented, not scared of anyone and that is why we thought he could start from such a young age."

He has shown the quality to be a main player and he started in 2008 at the age of 16. When he is 30 years old, that is a great age for a technical player.

Jack was an exceptional talent, but did not play enough games because of injuries, which is why he stopped as it was very difficult when you are a star like he was.

He has a coaching career in front of him, the fact that he could not go to the end of his potential might motivate him to make a great coaching career. It's what I want.

Jack could unlock the game with his short passing, but also tounlock the game with his ability to pass people one versus one and turn the game forward when you don't have a solution.

Jack was a winger at a young age and was able to pass people and open the game. He almost thought it was natural for him to be there because he was not afraid of the big stage, he was also not intimidated by anyone.

The Barcelona games were very special for me as they were a reference for us at the time and to see how we passed through players and how well he performed at that level - for me at that time the Barcelona team was the best in the world

He was an obvious choice and candidate with England.

He has a great understanding of the game and I think a position in the middle of the field would suit the development of a coach. He is brave, honest, and intelligent after that. He can have a promising career as a coach if he can transform his frustration into motivation and show how good he is at football.