Granit Xhaka was never just another midfielder.
During his years at Arsenal, he became one of the most recognizable leaders in the dressing room, endured intense criticism, experienced major highs and lows, and eventually transformed his reputation through his performances at Bayer Leverkusen.
Now imagine all of that experience being transferred from the pitch to the touchline. 👀
Could Xhaka one day return to Arsenal as a manager?
It is certainly a fascinating possibility.
🧠 The Football Brain Is Already There
One of the biggest reasons Xhaka’s name keeps coming up when people discuss a possible coaching career is his understanding of the game.
At Bayer Leverkusen, his importance went far beyond simply passing the ball.
Bundesliga analysis highlighted how frequently Xhaka made himself available, helped his team play through pressure, controlled the tempo and positioned himself intelligently between opponents. During the 2023/24 title-winning campaign, he became a central figure in Xabi Alonso’s system. (Bundesliga)
That experience matters.
A future manager needs to understand not only what happens with the ball, but also why it happens.
Xhaka has spent years operating in the middle of the pitch, reading pressure, organizing teammates and making decisions before the ball even arrives.
That is the kind of football education that can become extremely valuable on the touchline. 🎯
🗣️ Leadership Has Always Been Part of His Game
Xhaka has never been shy about demanding standards.
At Leverkusen, he spoke about arriving to help stabilize a young squad and emphasized the importance of hard work and mental strength. (Bundesliga)
That mentality could become one of his biggest assets as a coach.
Managers need players to believe in their standards.
They need someone who can walk into a dressing room and communicate expectations clearly.
Xhaka has already spent much of his career doing exactly that as a player and captain.
And his leadership is not simply about shouting.
It is also about responsibility, accountability and setting the tone.
🔥 His Relationship With Arteta Could Be Huge
There is another intriguing part of the story.
Xhaka spent several years working under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.
That means he has experienced first-hand how Arteta approaches training, tactics, preparation, standards and squad management.
Xhaka has also spoken about developing his coaching education and learning to see football from a coach’s perspective. He discussed completing his UEFA A Licence and said conversations with Xabi Alonso about training methods helped him understand the game differently. (www.watson.ch/)
That is a fascinating development.
He is not simply saying, “I want to become a manager.”
He has already started building the knowledge required to become one. 📚⚽
🏆 Leverkusen Added Another Chapter
His spell at Bayer Leverkusen may ultimately prove extremely important to his coaching development.
Xhaka joined the club in 2023 and quickly became a key figure under Alonso.
He played a major role in Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double-winning campaign and finished his Leverkusen career with 99 appearances in all competitions. (Bundesliga)
Think about what he experienced during those two seasons.
A new environment.
A different football culture.
A title-winning dressing room.
Working closely with one of Europe’s most tactically interesting young managers.
And playing a major role in a team built around positional discipline and intelligent possession.
That is practically a coaching education happening in real time. 🧠🔥
😤 Even His Arsenal Struggles Could Become Valuable
There is another side to Xhaka’s story that should not be forgotten.
His Arsenal career was complicated.
There were difficult moments, huge expectations, criticism from supporters and the famous captaincy controversy.
But those experiences could eventually become lessons.
A manager will inevitably deal with pressure, criticism, dressing-room disagreements and difficult decisions.
Xhaka has already experienced those emotions as a player.
He knows what it feels like to be praised.
He knows what it feels like to be heavily criticized.
And he knows how quickly football can change.
That perspective could be incredibly useful if he eventually enters management.
👀 Players Already See Something In Him
Former Arsenal teammate Jack Wilshere has also spoken positively about Xhaka’s coaching potential.
Wilshere described Xhaka as someone with enormous passion and hunger and suggested that his experiences with Arteta could help him become a top coach. (FourFourTwo)
That is interesting because Wilshere knows Xhaka personally.
He saw the competitive side of him inside the dressing room.
He saw how much he cared.
And he experienced those intense footballing arguments that are sometimes part of elite competition.
That fiery personality could become an advantage if Xhaka learns how to channel it as a manager. 🔥
🔴 Could Xhaka Really Manage Arsenal?
This is where the dream becomes particularly juicy.
Imagine walking into the Emirates years from now and seeing Granit Xhaka standing on the touchline.
The same man who once controlled Arsenal’s midfield is now controlling the entire team.
The former captain giving instructions from the technical area.
The former midfielder explaining tactical movements to Arsenal’s young players.
The former Gunner returning to the club not as a player, but as the man responsible for the football.
It would be an incredible storyline.
But becoming a great player does not automatically make someone a great manager.
Xhaka would still need to prove himself in coaching, develop his own tactical identity, learn how to manage different personalities and demonstrate that he can make difficult decisions from the dugout.
The potential is there.
The proof would have to come later.
❤️ From Arsenal Captain to Arsenal Manager?
That is the dream scenario.
Xhaka has already experienced Arsenal from the inside.
He understands the expectations.
He understands the pressure.
He understands what it means to wear the shirt.
He has worked under different managers.
He has played in different tactical systems.
He has captained Switzerland.
He has won major honours.
He has started his coaching education.
And he has worked alongside Xabi Alonso during one of the most successful periods in Bayer Leverkusen’s history. (www.watson.ch/)
There are certainly plenty of ingredients for an intriguing coaching career.
Whether those ingredients eventually produce an Arsenal manager is another question.
But if Xhaka continues down the coaching path, a return to North London in a completely different role would be one of football’s most compelling full-circle stories. 🔴⚪
Imagine Manager Granit Xhaka walking into the Emirates.
Now that would be a storyline. 👀🔥
