In contrast to his dignified and often solemn demeanor, no one could have anticipated that Arsene Wenger, the former manager who spent over two decades with Arsenal, would become embroiled in a scandalous affair that rocked the foundations of his personal life.
“Arsene Who?” – this headline adorned a British newspaper at the end of September 1996, when Arsenal officially appointed Arsene Wenger as the team’s head coach. This headline was not without reason. Following the dismissal of the previous manager, Bruce Rioch, many had expected the legendary Dutchman, Johan Cruyff, to take the helm at the London club. However, Arsenal surprised everyone by appointing Arsene Wenger, who was then working in Japan with Nagoya Grampus Eight.
From his official tenure with Arsenal in the 1996/1997 season until his departure in May 2018, Wenger left an indelible mark by guiding the team to three Premier League titles and seven FA Cup victories. Wenger’s skill lay in his ability to manage a successful team on a tight budget, and notably in cultivating an attractive style of play, rich in dedication to Arsenal.
However, the revered coach’s personal life proved to be far more complex. No one could have expected that Arsene Wenger, the manager who had been closely associated with Arsenal for over two decades, would be embroiled in a scandalous affair to the extent of causing significant disruption. Details of Wenger’s extramarital relationship were exposed in various British newspapers. The “Professor” Wenger shocked many by clandestinely pursuing a relationship with the much younger rap artist, Sonia Tatar, bypassing his then-wife, Annie Brosterhous, for a considerable period. The mystery surrounding Wenger’s involvement with Sonia Tatar unfolded further.
In a rather conventional manner, Wenger managed to charm Sonia, who was 22 years his junior, by asking for her phone number during a chance encounter at a restaurant in Paris. It’s worth noting that Wenger arranged dates with Sonia at the luxurious Concorde Lafayette Hotel, with room rates averaging around £750 per night. Of course, Wenger’s rendezvous with his mistress wasn’t merely for admiring the Eiffel Tower.
Sonia had previously divorced her husband at the young age of 20 and lived with her daughter in an apartment in Paris. Despite his stern demeanor with his players, Wenger seemed to be quite indulgent towards his young lover. In addition to luxury perfumes, Wenger spared no expense in buying Sonia numerous expensive wristwatches. Occasionally, Wenger secretly arranged for Sonia to fly to London to watch Arsenal play. Thus, the extramarital relationship with Sonia remained discreet for a considerable period.
One detail that cannot be overlooked is Sonia’s rumored relationships with several French football stars such as Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira. Everything came to light when Wenger’s secret lover unexpectedly spoke out. According to Sonia, she grew tired of waiting for Wenger. “Sonia just wants to be close to Wenger,” Sonia’s friends shared, “What she desires most is a perfect relationship with Wenger.”
As a result, Sonia urged the Arsenal manager to leave England and return to France. There were even reports that Sonia attempted to persuade Wenger to work for PSG. Faced with the relentless barrage of scandalous rumors, Arsenal Football Club at the time requested the British media to respect Wenger’s family’s privacy. Meanwhile, Wenger retaliated by threatening legal action against several British newspapers for blatant invasion of his privacy.
Unfortunately, shortly after the affair was exposed, Arsene Wenger’s marriage crumbled as Annie Brosterhous filed for divorce in the Strasbourg city court. Wenger had married Brosterhous in December 2010. However, prior to their marriage, the couple had lived together for a long time and had a daughter named Leah. Besides being beautiful and talented, Brosterhous was also very understanding. Nevertheless, Wenger remained entangled in an affair with the carefree singer, Sonia Tatar.
This led to a rift in the relationship between Wenger and his wife. “They have reached an agreement on property division and financial support after the divorce. Arsene and Annie have not been happy for a long time, and they believe that parting ways is the best for both of them. Nonetheless, it’s still regrettable,” a close source from Brosterhous shared at the time.
The price Wenger paid for his freedom was not cheap, as he agreed to part with £15 million and two houses to terminate his marriage contract. After divorcing his wife, Wenger once again caused a stir by being spotted with a young brunette woman during a trip to Mykonos Island, Greece, last year. Surely, the name Wenger will continue to be discussed extensively in the coming days.