SWISS ROLE
Forgotten Arsenal star, 40, lands first manager job four years after retiring at European minnows
The ex-ace originally had a completely new post-playing career
FORMER ARSENAL star Stephan Lichtsteiner has sunk his teeth into an unappetising Swiss role - by taking charge of a fourth-tier club near Zurich.
The defender spent the 2018/19 season at the Emirates, making 23 appearances and helping the Gunners reach the Europa League final.
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Lichtsteiner had previously won seven Serie A titles with Juventus and twice helped them to reach the Champions League final.
The now 40-year-old also played for Lazio, Lille and Swiss side Grasshoppers as well as winning 108 caps for Switzerland.
Having played at three World Cups, he finished his playing days in 2020 after a year with Bundesliga club Augsburg.
We previously revealed how Lichtsteiner had started an internship as a watchmaker with Zurich based firm Maurice de Mauriac.
However, he is now hoping to turn back the clock and have the time of his life again in the beautiful game after agreeing to become boss of Wettswil-Bonstetten from next season.
The modest club from Zurich's suburbs play in Switzerland's ‘Premier League’ - its fourth division.
A statement from them announced: “Stephan Lichtsteiner will take charge of our flagship team next season.
“It was important for us to choose someone with good local connections as our coach.
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“He and his family live in Wettswil, he has sometimes come to watch the team, and his son plays for our junior side.”
It added: “He brings great experience, he won seven Italian titles with Juventus and was a mainstay of their team.
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“He captained the Swiss national side, and had a year with Arsenal at the end of his playing career.”
Lichtsteiner is currently working as FC Basel's U16 coach.
He scored one goal for Arsenal, in a 2-1 League Cup win over Blackpool in October 2018.
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