He might be ready to return to the dug-out after departing Arsenal in the summer, but Arsene Wenger opted to mix things up as he dug out his boots for a charity match.
In front of a 10,000-strong crowd inside the Stade Jean-Laville, Wenger joined forces with the likes of France national team boss Didier Deschamps.
Wenger, Deschamps and Co provided the opposition to take on FC Gueugnon old boys and the match helped raise more than £20,000 for various charitable causes.
The paying spectators were not short of action as both teams put their foot firmly on the accelerator to finish with a 5-5 score line.
Gueugnon took an early lead before a well worked team goal saw the star-studded line-up which featured Wenger respond to level it up.
Wenger managed to get through an hour of the game before coming off and while talk of his own future remains a hot topic of debate, all the questions for the 68-year-old Frenchman afterwards surrounded one of his former players: Thierry Henry.
The Arsenal legend has been appointed as the new boss of struggling Monaco and Wenger believes he has all the 'necessary qualities to succeed'.
Speaking to L'Equipe, he said: 'He and others, like Patrick Vieira, can be proud of the playing career and can now be able to start coaching at the highest level.
'Me, it makes me happy, because at least I did not put them off the coaching profession! He is very intelligent, he has the necessary qualities to succeed.
'After that, it means having good players, believing in them, having a little luck and, above all, being in a good position.'
Sallyy
140
Being a football manager today must be the most thankless job in the world,what with the tabloid newspapers and social media on your back day in day out,including your own fans who seem to be the worst,its no wonder Ex Pros prefer the warm TV studio to the touchline.
patrhave
115
I've never been a fan of Arsenal, but I've always been a massive fan of the Arsene Wenger as I remember the fascination everyone had when he was first appointed and how cool he dealt with his first taste of tabloid scandal regarding his private life. It's well worth reading up about his time in charge of Monaco and how he transformed them in the late 80's, into a fantastic competitive team held back only by the dirty tactics and cheating of an all conquering Marseille. I miss the days of SAF vs Wenger and the wars of their on field generals Keane and Vieira.
book
114
I'm glad Arsene can now relax and enjoy his life, the Arsenal job carried a lot of stress and it seems a big weight has been lifted from his shoulders! All the best Arsene, Up the Gunners!!!!