that we will have to relocate to the US again
for several months, 2021 will be no different.
The separation is too big a strain for me and
my kids. It is with much sadness that I must
return to London and leave Montreal.” He
made the decision knowing that it left his
managerial career in limbo.
Ever since Henry moved into management,
many have been watching on, wondering if
he has what it takes to become Arsenal boss
one day. The Frenchman has a long way to
go to reach that level, but does it remain an
ambition, even a dream?
“Listen, if you ask an Arsenal fan if they’d
like to coach Arsenal one day, they’ll say yes,”
admits Henry. “If you ask an Arsenal fan if
they’d like to score a goal for Arsenal, they’ll
say yes. When I speak about it, it’s a utopia.
People get carried away whenever I say that
it’s my club, but I have it in my blood – I’m
an Arsenal fan. So if you’re asking me if one
day I’d like to coach Arsenal, then yes. If you
ask if one day I’d like to be Arsenal’s kit man,
then yes. If you ask if one day I’d like to cut
the grass at the Emirates Stadium, then yes.”
Henry stops just short of volunteering to be
Gunnersaurus. “But it’s a utopia, and I am far
from that. If you ask me am I dreaming, yes
I’m dreaming. But when you’re not dreaming,
you’re awake and there is a reality. WouldI love to coach Arsenal? Yes. Would I love to
go to Barcelona? Yes. Would I like to play for
Arsenal again? I’d love to play for them again,
but the reality is I can’t!
“I’m on my learning curve, I want to do well
for the team I’m coaching, then time will tell.
If you’re not successful, you’re not going to
have those types of opportunities. I’m just
concentrating on what I can control, and the
rest is a massive utopia. Would I have liked
to sing like Lionel Richie? Yes, but I don’t sing
like Lionel Richie!”
Henry bursts into laughter again, before
returning to make a serious point.
“Arsenal is part of me and always will be –
half of my heart belongs to Arsenal, and the
other half to my family,” he continues. “The
understanding I have with Arsenal fans is
something I cannot describe – it’s something
I’m always going to miss. If I could relive one
night, it would be when I came back on loan
and scored the winning goal against Leeds.
It was the third round of the FA Cup, Leeds
were in the Championship at the time and it
wasn’t the best goal ever, but I reconnected
with the fans for one night... one more night.
That was priceless.”
Right now, more nights like that as a coach
seem like a long shot, but Henry will not give
up – neither on his Arsenal dream, nor on
becoming a successful manager.
It remains to be seen what path he takes
from here. When he takes his next job, he will
remember those words from Wenger. Enjoy
the ride and all the best, Thierry. Because
it’s not easy.WEn GER’S DISCIPLES
A number of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal stars have gone on to become managers but, based on win percentage, who has had the most success? Look away now, Sol...
GIOVAnnI VAn
BROnCKHORSTMIKEL
ARTETA5 4 %
REMI
GARDE45 %
PATRICK
VIEIRA42 %
PAUL
MERSOn34 %
DAVID
PLATT33 %
THIERRY
HEnRY27 %
TOnY
ADAMS5 8 % 26 %
SOL
CAMPBELL23 %
MORE On FOURFOURTWO.COM
- Grace, pace, strength, vision: The making of
Thierry Henry (by Mark White) - Quiz: Can you name every club Henry scored
against for Arsenal? - Zinedine Zidane the Manager: How Zizou
positioned himself to become Real Madrid’s
leader (by Andrew Murray) - Le Hand of God: Henry’s handball that sent
France to the 2010 World Cup – remembered
by those who were there (by Ryan Herman)
Above “I’d love to
manage the
Gunners, but I’d
love to become the
kit man too”Figures correct to July 20. Under-21 games not included
ImagesGetty Images; PAFourFourTwo.com The Managers 151THIERRY
HEn RY