Arsenal legend interviewed for Bournemouth manager’s job as candidate drops out

An Arsenal legend is reported to have already been interviewed for AFC Bournemouth manager’s job following Jason Tindall’s dismissal.

The Cherries started conducting Zoom meetings on Wednesday and will continue them until Thursday before making a decision.

Patrick Vieira and David Wagner are among the candidates vying to be Bournemouth’s new boss whilst John Terry has dropped out of the running.

Vieira’s first job in management came at MLS outfit New York City FC and it turned out to be a successful one, with the Frenchman guiding the club to their first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup playoffs in his debut season with a fourth-place finish.

They improved on this in his second season in charge, finishing second before Vieira departed for Ligue 1 side Nice in June 2018.

Vieira took Nice to a seventh place finish in his first season, one better than the side had achieved the season before. They managed to better that last season too, with a fifth-place finish securing them Europa League football for the 2020-21 campaign.

This season, however, results haven’t been so good for Vieira, with only six wins from their first 16 games leaving Nice 11th and are already out of the Europa League. The club were on a five-game losing streak when they sacked Vieira in December.

Overall, a not bad start to life as manager, Bournemouth could be just what he needs to test him.

Recently sacked David Wagner is ‘among those keen to take over’ at the Cherries after manager Jason Tindall was got rid of last week.

The newly-relegated club currently sit sixth in the Championship table but came into the season with aspirations of automatic promotion and had got themselves into a worrying run of form under Tindall.

David Wagner guided the Terriers to a surprise promotion to the Premier League in 2016/17 and performed a second miracle by keeping them in the top flight for a second season.

He departed the John Smith’s Stadium halfway through that second Premier League campaign in 2019 with relegation already looking likely and took over at Schalke the following summer.

Wagner initially enjoyed a good start with the Bundesliga side, but was dismissed in September 2020 after taking them to 18 straight games without a win.

Find out who is listed as the top six favourites according to Sky Bet…

David Wagner – 5/6
Jonathan Woodgate – 4/1
Patrick Vieira – 4/1
John Terry – 11/2
Frank Lampard – 12/1
Nigel Pearson – 18/1

“The interview process is getting under way, I’m not they’re going to make an appointment before this weekend,” talkSPORT’s south-coast correspondent Alex Crook said.

“They’re happy to keep Jonathan Woodgate in charge until Saturday.

“They’re not looking to appoint a manager who’s been on the merry-go-round, they want someone fresh and relatively young with new ideas.

“That would rule out people like Tony Pulis and Nigel Pearson, who have shown interest in the job.

“They took a gamble with Jason Tindall, maybe they need someone who’s been there and seen it in the dugout more than John Terry.

“One name that has been mentioned to me, and it might be a bit of a curve ball but it makes sense, is Patrick Vieira, the Arsenal legend.

“He’s certainly interested in this job, he’s managed at Nice, he’s managed in the MLS, he’s managed at Man City’s Under-21s – so he’s got connections.

“He’s got a bit more experience than John Terry, but crucially, he’s almost a former teammate of Richard Hughes from his days at Arsenal.

“He fits the profile, the big name they want to bring in.”

With the Arsenal legend Patrick Viera being interviewed for Bournemouth manager’s job, would you like to see him as their new boss? Let us know via our socials.

Fans gave their reaction on the latest news emerging from the Vitality Stadium…

@AFCSonny_: Wilshere under Vieira 👀

@kam1409: Let it happen!! 😍 @OfficialVieira

@goonergiri: Would like to see Vieira get the job, and playing Jack Wilshere

@AlanMembury: Vieira please – Terry no bloody way.

@yeeeduuu: Personally hoping Vieira gets the job and becomes a step closer to becoming the Arsenal manager one day.

@itsyashn: Vieira to Bournemouth getting them promotion and survival in the first season, playing Arsenal and giving us 3 points cause he’s rigging it

@rehnato: Patrick Vieira at Bournemouth is absolutely needed

@RampantRico: strengths. If the players aren’t inspired by Patrick Vieira, WC winner and Arsenal legend, walking through the changing room door, then we haven’t got much hope. We need a short term impact, games won here and now. IMO Vieira is the most viable option out of the candidates #afcb

@zacb03: Seeing Patrick Vieira being linked to the Bournemouth Job. Recently managed Nice in France for 18months and likes to play on the front foot with attacking football. Wouldn’t say no tbh…

@TikiTakaConnor: Patrick Vieira managing @JackWilshere. Someone get me a @afcbournemouth jersey now.