Former England international who was appointed to his first manager’s job at Kenilworth Road in October 2025, at the age of 33.
Wilshere enjoyed a stellar career as a player, making 197 appearances for Arsenal, before spells at West Ham United, AFC Bournemouth and Aarhus GF, having started out in the Luton Town centre of excellence aged eight, growing up in nearby Hitchin.
A generational midfield talent, Wilshere won 34 caps for the national team, scoring twice – both stunning strikes against Slovenia in 2011 – and would have enjoyed a longer playing career but for injuries.
A spell training with the Hatters in the summer of 2021, and finding himself unable to keep up with the intensity required under then-boss Nathan Jones, told Wilshere it was time to focus on coaching.
He returned to Arsenal to coach their Under-18s in 2022, leading the young Gunners to the FA Youth Cup final, before departing in November 2024 to take up a first-team coaching role at Championship club Norwich City.
After two games in interim charge at the end of the 2024/25 season, Wilshere left Carrow Road to complete his UEFA Pro Licence qualification and search for manager’s job, which he found back where it all started for him 25 years earlier, at Luton Town.
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