Former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere is on the verge of landing his first full-time managerial job, with reports indicating that League One side Luton Town have made him their top candidate to take charge following the dismissal of Matt Bloomfield.
According to BBC Sport, the 33-year-old, who has never held a permanent senior coaching position, has impressed Luton’s hierarchy and could soon be handed the reins at Kenilworth Road.
Wilshere’s only previous experience in senior management came last season when he briefly served as interim coach at Norwich City after the exit of Johannes Hoff Thorup. Despite overseeing only a handful of games, the Canaries opted to appoint Bristol City’s Liam Manning permanently, leaving Wilshere without a role.
The former midfielder began his coaching career in Arsenal’s youth setup, managing the club’s U18 team, which included promising talents like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly. He later joined Norwich as assistant coach but was widely expected to return to Arsenal this summer following the departure of U21 boss Mehmet Ali. That move appears to have fallen through, opening the door for a senior role elsewhere.
Luton’s pursuit of Wilshere comes at a critical time for the club. Once the Premier League’s surprise package, the Hatters now sit 11th in League One, a far cry from their remarkable 2023–24 campaign when they fought valiantly during their brief top-flight stint.
Under former boss Rob Edwards, Luton enjoyed a rapid rise through the divisions, but his eventual replacement, Matt Bloomfield, failed to stop the team’s slide down the English football pyramid.
Despite his lack of experience, Wilshere is no stranger to pressure. He burst onto the scene at Arsenal aged 16, and at just 18, delivered a standout performance against Barcelona’s iconic midfield trio of Xavi, Busquets, and Iniesta in a famous 2–1 Champions League win.
Although injuries plagued his playing career, Wilshere made 197 appearances for Arsenal and earned 34 England caps, scoring twice. He also represented Bolton, Bournemouth, West Ham, and Aarhus (Denmark) before retiring at 30 to pursue coaching full-time.
If appointed, Wilshere would join a growing list of young coaches thriving in England’s lower leagues, a trend epitomized by Kieran McKenna, who guided Ipswich Town from League One to the Premier League.
Luton will be hoping their bold move pays off in similar fashion. With Wilshere’s Arsenal and Norwich background, the Hatters believe his modern coaching ideas could help steer the club back to the Championship and restore pride at Kenilworth Road.
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