Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger travelled to Alsace on Sunday to open the "Stade de Arsene Wenger" -- a new stadium named after him near his hometown in France.
Alsace is located about 20 kilometres outside Strasbourg, where he was born, while the 500-capacity stadium will be the home of local team USL Dippinheim.
Bain de foule, selfies pr l'inauguration du stade Arsène #Wenger à #Duppigheim #Alsace. @20minutesstras @20Minutes pic.twitter.com/c6YtXYTrOt
- Floreal Hernandez (@floreal_hdez) May 22, 2016
Wenger said it was "an honour" to have the venue named after him and hoped it could inspire young people in the region.
"Anything can happen. When I was a kid, I never imagined becoming the manager of a big club," Wenger said. "So if it only contributes to that it's already good."
stade Arsène #Wenger à #Duppigheim "Il mériterait d'avoir un stade à son nom ds chaque village #alsace & de #France" pic.twitter.com/AFBHy7hb0R
- 20minutesstras (@20minutesstras) May 22, 2016
The Frenchman cut a ceremonial ribbon to open the stadium then posed for pictures with locals of all ages who had come to greet one of their favourite natives.
Dippinheim chairman Peter Troesch added that naming the stadium after Wenger was an easy choice: "He deserves to have one in every village in Alsace and France."