Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere (born 1 January 1992) is an English football coach and former professional player who played as a midfielder. He is the head coach of the Arsenal under-18 team.
Wilshere came up through Arsenal's youth academy and made his first-team debut in 2008, becoming Arsenal's youngest league debutant at the age of 16 years, 256 days. He earned a number of accolades including the PFA Young Player of the Year award, selection to the 2010–11 PFA Team of the Year, and Arsenal's Player of the Season award,. After leaving Arsenal in 2018, Wilshere joined West Ham United where he remained for two years before departing by mutual consent. He then had short spells at AFC Bournemouth and AGF, before announcing his retirement from playing in 2022.
Wilshere appeared 34 times for the England national team, having previously represented his country at under-age levels. He made his debut for the senior team against Hungary at the age of 18 years and 222 days, making him the 12th-youngest debutant for England. He represented England at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016.
Early life
Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere was born on 1 January 1992 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. He gerew up in nearby Hitchin, and captained his school team. He captained the Priory School football team to County Cup and District Cup glory from Year 7 through to Year 10, and also added the Under 15s National Cup to his list in Year 8. He was a boyhood fan of West Ham United, his idol being Paolo Di Canio.
Club career
Arsenal
Early career
Wilshere joined the Arsenal Academy in October 2001 at the age of nine, after a short spell in the Luton Town youth programme. He rose through the ranks, and at the age of 15 was named the captain of the under-16s. In the summer of 2007, Wilshere featured in the Champions Youth Cup in Malaysia and upon his return to England, Arsenal Academy coach Steve Bould gave him a start for the under-18s first match against the Chelsea under-18 team. He scored his first goal against Aston Villa under-18s in a 4–1 win. He then scored a hat-trick against Watford under-18s, helping his side to an Academy Group A title. He finished his first full season with the under-18s with 13 goals in 18 appearances, most of which came when he was 15.
In February 2008, he made his debut for Arsenal Reserves aged 16 against Reading, and scored Arsenal's only goal of the match, which ended in a draw. He scored a memorable goal against West Ham reserves in March, picking the ball up and curling a shot into the top left corner under the watching eye of first-team manager Arsène Wenger. He managed to record two goals and two assists in just three appearances for the reserves at the end of the 2007–08 season. He played in the under-16s' victory in the Ferroli Cup, being named as player of the tournament. He played an important role in Arsenal's 2008–09 FA Youth Cup win, scoring goals in the semi-final and producing a man-of-the-match display in the first leg of the final against Liverpool, assisting two goals and scoring himself.
Wenger gave Wilshere a place in Arsenal's first-team squad for the 2008–09 season, and he was given the number 19 shirt. He made his competitive debut in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in September 2008, as an 84th-minute substitute for Robin van Persie. At the age of 16 years and 256 days he was Arsenal's youngest-ever league debutant, a record previously held by Cesc Fàbregas. Ten days later, on 23 September, Wilshere scored his first competitive Arsenal goal in a 6–0 victory against Sheffield United in the 2008–09 League Cup. On 25 November 2008, Wilshere came on as a substitute in a UEFA Champions League match against Dynamo Kyiv, becoming the fifth sixteen-year-old to ever play in the competition. In January 2009 he signed his first professional contract, extending it in July the same year.
In the preparation for the 2009–10 season, Wilshere scored twice and was twice awarded man of the match as Arsenal regained the friendly tournament, the Emirates Cup. On 22 September 2009, he started for Arsenal in their 2–0 League Cup win over West Bromwich Albion. In the 37th minute of the match he was involved in a controversial incident with Jerome Thomas; Thomas pushed Wilshere's face and was shown a red card.