Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reveals love of Bob Marley

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is a big fan of reggae legend Bob Marley - and does not mind that he comes across as "constipated" in the media.

The revelations came in an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien in which Wenger reveals that he is "a lifelong fan of the Jamaican reggae superstar and regularly listens to his songs in his spare time", reports The Guardian.

"I love his music and the man that he was," said Wenger. "He was not fabricated. He was real. I love people who do not have conventional paths and who stand out because of their talent."

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The Arsenal manager revealed more of his lighter side when he told the paper that he is a comedy fan, and named comedians Raymond Devos and Pierre Desproges, both famed for their mastery of the French language, as two of his favourites. Like Marley, they are both now dead.

"It is an aspect of my personality that people do not know about,” he said. "With my job, I am often stressed, so I might come across like someone with constipation.

"But I like to laugh when I am with my friends and to show my humorous side, which is something that I cannot do in the media."

The Daily Telegraph describes the interview as "wide ranging" and reports that Wenger said he could not imagine managing another club, although he has close contacts at Paris Saint-Germain.

He also backed Lionel Messi to regain the Ballon d'Or and said the Argentine was "touched by God".

Asked about other managers Wenger said it was "always a pleasure" to see Alex Ferguson, and said their rivalry had developed into a "respect". But he was less forthcoming about his fractious relationship with Jose Mourinho. "I would prefer not to talk about it," he said.

But it was news of his taste for 1970s reggae that prompted the most surprise and amusement on social media.

Goal.com imagined him "jammin' along in his car on the way to training", while Whoateallthepies.tv claimed: "Wenger loves nothing more than winding down with a bit of irie Natural Mystic."