Former Arsenal defender Steve Bould will become Arsene Wenger’s new assistant manager at the English Premier League club after Pat Rice announced he is leaving at the end of the season.
Rice, who made 528 appearances in 14 seasons for Arsenal from 1966, has been working under Wenger since the Frenchman took charge in 1996.
Wenger announced on Thursday that Bould would replace Rice after coaching Arsenal’s youth players since 2001.
Bould made 372 appearances between 1988 and 1999 for Arsenal, winning seven major honours including the league title three times.
Rice, 63, has been associated with the North London side for 44 years, having first joined the Gunners as a youth team player in 1964.
After a four-year spell with Watford in the early 1980s, Rice returned to Arsenal as youth team coach before joining Arsene Wenger’s backroom staff in the mid 1990s.
As a player, right-back Rice was a member of the Arsenal side that won the league and FA Cup double in 1971 and the 1979 FA Cup. He also won 49 caps for Northern Ireland.
In his role as a key member of Wenger’s staff, Rice helped Arsenal to three Premier League titles and four FA Cups including ‘doubles’ in 1998 and 2002.
Wenger, paying tribute to Rice, told Arsenal’s website: “Pat is a true Arsenal legend and has committed almost his whole life to Arsenal Football Club, which shows huge loyalty and devotion to this club.
“Pat has been amazing for me over the past 16 years,” the manager added. “When I first arrived at Arsenal, Pat was always there and taught me so much about this great club.
“I will always be indebted to him for his expert insight into Arsenal and football as a whole.
“On the training pitches and on match days, Pat has always been a passionate, loyal and insightful colleague, who we will all miss.”
“Thank you Pat, we’ll miss you and all of us wish you and your family the best of health and happiness for the future.
“Although, we’ll still see Pat a lot, as I know he’s planning to come to all the home matches as a supporter!”
Rice’s last match as assistant manager will be Sunday’s game at West Brom, Arsenal’s final fixture of the EPL season.
