Jack Wilshere says taking charge of Luton Town feels like a “full circle” moment, while revealing a pivotal part that one of his predecessors played in becoming a coach and vowing to reconnect the club with its supporters as he begins his first permanent job in management.
The former Arsenal and England midfielder, who started his football journey at Luton as a schoolboy, described his return as both an honour and a responsibility. He also made clear his ambition to lead the Hatters straight back to the Championship, saying the team must reflect the town’s identity and energy.
Wilshere has taken the Kenilworth Road hotseat after former boss Matt Bloomfield was sacked a week ago, coming through a rigorous week-long selection process. At 33 years of age, he will be younger than some of his new squad – James Shea is 34 and Nahki Wells is 36 – but he not the youngest manager in Town’s history as David Pleat was nine months younger when he got the top job in the 1978.
Though he’s inexperienced, having coach Arsenal’s under-18s and taking temporary charge of Norwich at the end of last season, Wilshere has made the hugely experienced coach and manager Chris Powell as his second in command.
“[It’s a] very, very proud moment for me, for my family. A massive, massive honour. I feel really honoured,” said Wilshere. “Maybe it hasn’t sunk in just yet, but I know about this club. I started here. I’ve had a connection with them for many, many years. Recently going back to train. But, yeah, I’m really excited, and I’m really honoured.”
He recalled how training with Nathan Jones’ Championship squad inspired him to move into coaching after realising he could no longer compete physically in a playing career cut frustratingly short by injury.
“Nathan Jones kindly invited me back. I trained here and I loved every minute. It was a season where we got promoted to the Premier League and I really wanted to be part of it. It’s probably is the reason why I started thinking about coaching, the intensity that Nathan would bring and the intensity around the training ground and the staff had.
“I wanted to be part of it, but unfortunately my body said no. Even that, I think it’s quite a nice thing that it made me think, well, actually, I probably can’t compete at the same level that I want to, and I have to think about something else.”
Wilshere says his aim is to rebuild belief and reconnect the team with its supporters, who have seen their side slip from the top flight 18 months ago through to League One, where they currently sit in mid-table, despite having ambitions to get promoted back to the second tier.
Speaking about the goal to return there, Wilshere said: “Before anything, I think we need to see a team that is fighting, that we can connect with the fans, we can get the fans on our side, we can use that energy at home. We can be aggressive, on the front foot. And we have to build that. We have to build confidence. We have to build belief.”
Wilshere said he wants Luton to play with intensity and courage rather than copy anyone’s style, though he has drawn inspiration from the manager’s he’s played under and coaches he’s built relationships with.
He said: “I don’t think you can copy and paste, that’s for sure, as a manager. Of course, I like the ball and I want to have control of the game, but there’s things that you have to do before you can get to that. You have to earn the right for the fans to cheer you.”
Wilshere was also clear about his long-term goal, saying: “Luton should be a club that represents the people of Luton. It should be a team that is aggressive, on the front foot. It should be a team that uses this traditional, beautiful stadium [Kenilworth Road].
“Everyone goes to stadiums now where the Emirates is massive, but you do actually really feel what you feel in a stadium like this? We have to use that. We have to buy into that. The goal is to get promoted. Then I’m sure if that happens, we’ll sit down in the summer and make another plan that can be aggressive.”
Wilshere added that he feels ready for the challenge despite his lack of senior managerial experience. “Am I ready for this? Yes. Am I ambitious? Yes. Do I want to achieve great things with Luton and get back to the Championship? Yes. And I feel like I’m ready.”
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