Pascal De Maesschalck has shared his surprise over joining Arsenal and talked up his challenges and goals with the Premier League winners.
The Belgian started his career as Club Brugge’s youth team director in 2007. In July 2011, he made his way as the academy manager and left them for AS Monaco the following month.
In July 2024, RC Strasbourg appointed him as their technical director. He left the Ligue 1 side to join Arsenal in August as their academy director.
At the north London club, his role will see him focus on their academy program, oversee the youngsters’ development and recruit young talents.
Positive feeling after talks with Arsenal
Sporza in Belgium interviewed the 52-year-old to discuss his move to Arsenal, his role, Mikel Arteta and other topics.
The outlet labels him as an ‘architect’ of Club Brugge academy. He was in shock when the Gunners hired him and explained the hiring process.
“I actually still have no idea how they ended up with me,” he said.
“I have always learned to do your job as well as possible, and then opportunities arise. Don’t think in advance: ‘I want to do that’.”
“In my case, a club of Arsenal’s calibre came along, which is a completely different dimension than where I was able to work before. I walked out with a good feeling. I said: even if I don’t get the job, I still learned a lot in the past two hours. Our ideas aligned well.”
The challenges Pascal De Maesschalck faces at the Emirates are different when compared to his former clubs because of Brexit. Non-British youngsters have to wait until 18 years of age to move to the UK.
“After last season, you can say that it is the best club in Europe. If you win the Premier League, which is quite a tough competition, and you play in the Champions League final, then you are in the top 3 in Europe,” De Maesschalck explained.
“That is the challenge for me now. Does my approach work at the very highest level? Don’t forget, working in the Premier League is completely different from Belgium or France. You have the Brexit story, the rules are completely different…”
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s ambition
Pascal De Maesschalck clearly lays out the Premier League winners’ ambition to establish themselves as one of the best academies. This can also open the first team door for some of the young talents from the academy.
“[Mikel] Arteta wants to collaborate, he also wants to give the youngsters a chance. He has expressed his support for that very clearly. Our ambition is to write the development story of England,” he added.
“I watch a lot of matches. I also build relationships with the players and their parents, because I think it is important to know the players personally. It remains a ‘people’s business’.”
“And recruitment, of course. That is the most important thing. You can have the best facilities or operations, but with the wrong players, it won’t work.”
