Paris: Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has been to the Stade de France almost as many times as Thierry Henry and Robert Pires.
But Arsenal’s Champions League final against Barcelona on Wednesday will be the first time he will be on the touchline.
Wenger has been Arsenal coach since 1996, he has combined coaching duties with a regular seat in the commentator's box at Stade de France.
Wenger, the television pundit, offered uncommon insight and trenchant analysis - in both French and Japanese – during the 2003 Confederations Cup, and qualifiers for the 2004 European Championships and 2006 World Cup.
Now, as coach, he attempts to win a European final at the third attempt.
"It's the culmination of nine and half years of hard work," Wenger said.
"It's a reward for me and all my staff, and the board which has always backed me."
For Henry, who grew up in the Paris suburb of Les Ulis until joining Wenger at Monaco in 1995, it is familiar territory.
"The Champions League final is the Champions League final wherever it is," Henry said.
"It's nice that it's in Paris but the most important thing is to be there (in the final)."
He said growing up in Ulis, located in the Parisian suburb of Essone, taught him how to stand up for himself.
"You always gets aggressive on the streets, that's how you get tough. There's no better school than the streets," he said.
"It's that anger factor and, when I see (Wayne) Rooney, I see a player from the streets. You cannot teach that."
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