Arsenal: Per Mertesacker the perfect academy man

Per Mertesacker is Arsenal’s new Academy Manager upon his retirement from the game in the summer. His character makes him the perfect person for the role.

Per Mertesacker was always a more considered footballer. He was intelligent, self-aware, understanding, compassionate, built with poise and respect. He prided himself on his mind, not necessarily his athletic gifts. It was clear that he would always make a great coach.

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And now, upon his retirement, the German World Cup winner has taken on his role as the manager of the Arsenal academy. It is a big job for someone coming straight out of playing the game, but it is one that Mertesacker seems more than up to the challenge.

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Mertesacker recently undertook a wide-ranging interview with BBC Sport, covering topics from Mesut Ozil’s international retirement to the mentality of Petr Cech, from the impact of Unai Emery to the struggles of Joachim Low. In it, he said this about the work that he and all of the other youth coaches around the world must do when they develop talent in clubs’ academies:

"“We are finding the talent, but how can we make them cope with the league and cope with all of the money and madness that comes in? We have to get rid of the feeling that we have everything in England and we don’t need to assess other countries. It is just wrong. Sometimes we can send them away from home, and away from their comfort zone. I am now responsible for giving them the right ingredients so they can cope with that and can cope with going away.”"

The way the Mertesacker speaks about young players, the help that they require in the modern game, the support structures that must be in place, is admirable. And also extremely wise. How many times have we seen the money or the fame or the off-field distractions derail a young player’s career?

Mertesacker speaks with great awareness of the problems that are facing him, the coaches, and the players that they are working with. He does not ignore the rigours of the modern coach. He directly addresses what he and other coaches must do to help these young players. That is the type of person that I would want in charge of an academy.

The other distinct advantage that Mertesacker has is his personal experience. He is not some alien coach imparting wistful wisdom on players that comes with no relation to the real world. Mertesacker has been where those young players are and he has succeeded. He is the perfect role model for any young talent as they look to navigate the stormy waters of graduating from young prospect to senior contributor.

Mertesacker had clear flaws as a player. But as a person, a coach and the head of the academy, he must just be the perfect man for the job.