GENEVA (AP) FIFA has hired Arsene Wenger in a full time role leading its global work developing soccer.
The former Arsenal manager accepted FIFA's offer Wednesday more than two months after it was first reported, and one week after talks with Bayern Munich about the German champion's vacant head coach job.
FIFA said Wenger's title will be chief of global football development. He will oversee the rules-making panel known as IFAB, coaching programs and technical analysis of games at FIFA tournaments.
Wenger will also help FIFA create an executive program ''tailored to encourage former professional players to enter management,'' soccer's world body said in a statement.