WIDELY credited with revolutionizing English soccer, Arsene Wenger is to leave his long-time role as Arsenal manager at the end of the season.

The 68-year-old Frenchman has been at the north London club since 1996.

He is the longest serving manager still in the English Premier League, but has been under pressure in recent years from a disgruntled section of fans.

Wenger is considered as the most successful manager in Arsenal’s history — three Premier League titles (1997-98, 2001-02; 2003-04), finished in Premier League top 4 in each of first 20 seasons at Arsenal.

He also led the Gunners to seven FA Cup titles.

The Frenchman left Japanese club Nagoya Grampus Eight after 18 months to replace Bruce Rioch at Highbury in 1996, and the almost immediate effect he had in turning Arsenal’s fortunes around was immense.

It took Wenger only a season to end the club’s seven-year wait for a title, and they went on to finish in the Premier League’s top two for eight successive seasons.

Wenger also had the “Invicibles” unbeaten campaign of 2003-04 that spearheaded a Premier League-record 49-match unbeaten run.

Currently sixth in the Premier League, Arsenal is 14 points off fourth place — the top-flight’s last Champions League qualification slot — but faces Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semifinals next week.

Victory in that competition would qualify Arsenal for next season’s Champions League.

“I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high,” added Wenger. “To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club. My love and support for ever.”

When Wenger arrived in England he was only the third overseas manager to coach a Premier League team.

He introduced new ideas about nutrition, training and tactics and established a track record for signing players who became global stars, notably Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie.(SD-Agencies)