Life After Arsene: the honorable mentions

In our Life After Arsene profiles, we ran the rule over the ten managerial candidates we felt could replace Arsene Wenger when the legendary manager steps aside. In today's honorable mention post, we list out, in alphabetical order, the names that fell just outside of our selective lens.

Mikel Arteta. Defensive midfielder, Arsenal

Arteta's name was brought forward by Aidan. In his words "As captain and technical leader, Arteta has shown both leadership and tactical nous. He's spoken several times of the way he'd set his teams out, and has shown an eye for the kind of coaching that would make a transition to a coaching and managerial career. An unknown, but you get the sense with Arteta that he'd be a good manager."

Dennis Bergkamp. Assistant manager, Ajax

The Arsenal legend would be welcomed back with open arms if he ever were to one day return. But with anything involving the Iceman, his refusal to fly on airplanes should be taken into account. He could be a tactical revolutionary with the most discerning scouting eye, and it still wouldn't make things any easier when Arsenal play in Europe. He managed to make certain European nights, as a player, through travels that would make for a good sequel to "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," but it doesn't make for an ideal situation if he were to become Wenger's replacement.

Marcelo Bielsa. Manager, Olympique de Marseille

After managing Argentina's and Chile's national teams he ended up at Basque club Athletico Bilbao, where he oversaw the signing and development of Ander Herrera. Led the club to the 2012 Europe League final versus La Liga rival Atletico Madrid, losing 3-0 in the final. Bielsa current has Marseille atop the Ligue 1 table, with Andre-Pierre Gignac second in the league in scoring. He's recently refused to commit his long-term future to the Mediterranean club, leading many to think he's angling to springboard off his early successes into a larger club.

Paul Clement. Assistant manager, Real Madrid

An academy or assistant coach throughout his entire coaching career, Clement's name made news this past fall when it was "reported" that Arsenal and Wenger had "agreed" for him to succeed the Frenchman when he eventually steps aside. He's worked under Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and now at Real Madrid, eventually becoming his top assistant at the Bernabeu, but his lack of leading a club on his own prevented his ascension into our Life After Arsene profiles.

Phillip Cocu. Manager, PSV Eindhoven

Taking over full time last season in his first-ever managerial stint, Cocu guided the club he once starred for as a player to a 5th place position in the Eredivisie. He started off this season beating reigning league champions Ajax and hasn't looked back since; PSV's currently on top of the table and aiming to prevent the Amsterdam club from their 5th straight title. Cocu appears to have a grasp on what it takes to win in Holland, but he needs more seasoning and success to get looks from outside of the country.

Unai Emery. Manager, Sevilla

Relative success in Spain and Europe the past two seasons with a hamstrung budget, notably signing Grzegorz Krychowiak this past season for a tidy £3.5 million. His run through last season's Europa League was impressive, but he just barely missed out on our top 10 managerial candidates to replace Arsene Wenger due to a lack of success outside of Spain.

Andries Jonker. Head of Academy, Arsenal

Brief stays at three clubs in Holland during the 2000's before landing at Bayern Munich as Louis van Gaal's assistant, eventually becoming their reserve team coach in 2011. Left Munich to head up Arsenal's academy in 2012. While possibly a good fit for his current position, there's nothing on the surface to suggest he's anywhere capable of making the substantial leap to manage Arsenal.

Joachim Low. Manager, Germany national team

Putting aside his conquests with the national team, Low's club managerial track record is pretty mediocre. He somehow managed Karlsruher to relegation to 3. Liga at the turn of the century, and hasn't managed a club since he left FK Austria Wien ten years ago. Scrutiny couldn't manage to evade Low this past summer, as his tactics and lineups came into question. Many critics thought his players, regarded as Germany's best in a few generations, were simply far too good and overcame the obstacles Low set for them.

Jose Mourinho. Manager, Chelsea

Yeah, we went there. Let's face it, he's an ass who's also got an arrest on his record for dog and community neglect. Anyone who fails to keep his dog properly immunized and quarantined from the public, even if it's a stupid Yorkie, is one not to be trusted. An antagonist in the truest sense of the definition. But the man knows how to win wherever he goes, and his fascination with Wenger's managerial leash and control at Arsenal is far too voyeuristic to conclude he's not curious to find out what he could do on the red side of north London.

Manuel Pellegrini. Manager, Manchester City

Earlier this season, under a patchy form of results not befitting the standards set by his Abu Dhabi bosses, Pellegrini's name came up as a possible Arsene Wenger replacement if both men were set free from their current contracts. However, Pellegrini's righted the Sky Blue ship, resumed their challenge of overtaking Chelsea's position atop of the Premier League table, and securing (for now) his position on the Etihad Stadium bench. Further, the Chilean is 61 years old, which would make him a very short-term option to any future club he ends up with.

Roger Schmidt. Manager, Bayer Leverkusen

Quickly earning plaudits for his offensive tactics, which relies on a heavy assault of shots from all areas of the pitch off the backs of a strong midfield press, Schmidt has Leverkusen in the Champions League Round of 16 in his first season in charge and a 3rd spot in the Bundesliga table. While he came from a successful stint at Red Bull Salzburg, Schmidt needs show this lovely run of form is sustainable.

Thomas Tuchel. Currently unemployed, former manager of FSV Mainz 05

Finished in the top half of the Bundesliga table three out of the five seasons in charge, before asking out of his contract after leading the club to a Europa League qualification after last season. The prevailing thought is Tuchel's looking to capitalize on the success he brought to Mainz - a club once accustomed to turmoil and bad results - at a bigger club either in Germany or abroad, but the leap from Mainz to Arsenal would be extraordinary and highly-unrealistic.

Patrick Vieira. Manager, Manchester City Reserves

One of the most intimidating players to don Arsenal's famous shirt, and captain during Arsene Wenger's most successful seasons, Vieira's currently gaining his coaching experience leading Manchester City's reserve team. While his departure from the club was a touch acrimonious, he's still beloved within the walls of Colney and could be in line for a return if he continues to develop and succeed as a manager.