Coaching Staff

Pat Rice

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Pat’s enthusiasm for Arsenal remains undimmed after more than 40 years of magnificent service to the Club. The Northern Irishman, who can be always be seen energetically putting the team through their paces prior to kick-off, arrived at the Club as a 15 year-old apprentice in 1964 and went on to make 528 appearances at right-back for the Gunners, undoubtedly becoming one of the Club’s greatest defenders, from any era.

Pat reached five FA Cup Finals and a Cup Winners’ Cup Final and holds the distinction, along with Bob Wilson, of having been involved as player or coach in all three of Arsenal’s 'double'-winning seasons.

A trusted lieutenant beside Arsène Wenger on the bench, Pat’s coaching career at the Club started in 1984 with the youth team, following a stint at Watford where he had ended his playing career.

12 years and two FA Youth Cup wins later, Pat graduated from nurturing the talent of tomorrow to guiding the star names of today, becoming Arsène Wenger’s Assistant in 1996 after a brief spell as Caretaker Manager in which he won all three league matches of which he took charge.

Despite being born in Northern Ireland, Pat moved to London as a child and grew up within a stone’s throw of Highbury on Gillespie Road, he was however extremely proud to represent the country of his birth and – like his fellow full-back of the time Sammy Nelson – was a regular for the Ulstermen throughout the 1970s, earning 49 caps.
 

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