Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that he has recommended Remi Garde to Aston Villa's hierarchy in their search for a new manager.
The Villans are on the managerial hunt after sacking Tim Sherwood last week following their 2-1 home defeat by Swansea City - their sixth straight Premier League loss - as they sit bottom bottom of the table.
Former Lyon coach Garde, who was signed by Wenger in 1996, is reportedly a frontrunner for the role, and the Gunners boss has said that he has been in contact with Villa chief executive Tom Fox - formerly at Arsenal - over the 49-year-old.
"It's a big challenge for him but it's a big opportunity," the Frenchman is quoted as saying by The Express.
"You do not get 20 opportunities to come to England and at the moment, in Europe, you find 250 managers who want to come to England. He should just take it.
"He [Fox] texted me. I think they met Remi with the chairman [Randy Lerner] and they made their opinion."
Garde could be in attendance to watch Villa - currently managed by caretaker Kevin MacDonald - take on Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night.
Shane Callaghan
