Thierry Henry, Arsenal's All-Time Great Gunner

Thierry Henry’s incredible career began in the Paris suburb of Les Ulis. Thierry was born in August 1977 in Les Ulis; the son of immigrant parents from French oversees regions in the Caribbean Thierry bonded with other children in the neighbourhood through football. 

His abilities as a youngster were impressive enough to earn him a spot on CO Les Ulis youth club as a 7-year-old. A 15 year old Henry joined formidable French club Monaco FC in 1992 and was granted a first team place after only one season with the club.  Henry would stay with the French club for seven years and was an integral part of the squad that won the 1996-1997 ‘Ligue 1’ title.

A young Thierry Henry plying his trade at Monaco 

In 1999 Thierry Henry decided to leave Monaco and join defending Italian Champions Juventus. He had a disappointing season on the wing, not his preferred position, and didn’t reach the heights of his Monaco performances. After only one with Monaco season Henry joined Arsenal for £11 million in 1999 where he would go onto become a club cult hero and Arsenal’s all-time top goal scorer.

It was at Arsenal that Henry made his name as a world class player. Despite the club struggling in the Premier League when he arrived Henry quickly emerged as an incredible player for Arsenal and became the club’s top goal-scorer for almost every season. Under long time mentor and former Monaco coach Arsene Wenger, Henry became a prolific striker and Arsenal’s all time goal scorer with 228 goals in all competitions.

 

Thierry Henry is firmly established as an Arsenal legend

The Frenchman won two League Titles and three F.A cups with the Gunners and was runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year twice. Henry spent his final two seasons with Arsenal as club captain leading them to the UEFA Champions League Final where they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by European heavyweights Barcelona.

 

In June 2007 after eight years at Arsenal Henry transferred to Barcelona for a fee of £24 million. In 2009 he was an integral part of the club’s historic treble when they won La Liga, the Copa Del Ray and the UEFA Champions League. He returned to Arsenal on loan for two months in 2012.  In 2013 Henry went to MLS club New York Red Bulls and won the MLS Supporters shield.

 

Henry enjoyed incredible success with the French national team also, winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup UEFA, Euro 2000 Championships and 2003 FIFA confederations Cup. He retired from International football in 2010 World Cup.

 

1 World Cup and 1 European Championship, not a bad return for an Intenatioanl career

Henry married English model Nicole Merry in 2003 and had a daughter with her, but they divorced in 2007. Henry was also one of the top commercially marketed footballers ever ranked ninth in the world in 2006.

Thierry Henry is now retired and working for Sky Sports. Perhaps in the future he may make a return as Arsenal manager.

 

 

 

by Mitchell Wallace