Premier League legend Thierry Henry is close to making a return to management. The former Arsenal striker is in talks with MLS outfit New York Red Bulls, the club he represented between 2010 and 2014, scoring 52 goals.
Henry endured a disastrous maiden spell as manager with AS Monaco, another club he turned out for back in his playing days. His time in Ligue 1 lasted just three months, with a win rate of just 20%. After such an underwhelming first taste in the role, will Henry be able to redeem himself in the states?
A Forgettable First Spell
Thierry Henry is remembered as one of the best strikers of his generation and became the latest of 2000s legends to enter the world of management. He took over as head coach of Monaco in October last year. Champions of France in 2017, ‘Les Rouge et Blanc’ found themselves lingering in the relegation play-off zone. After the dismissal of Leonardo Jardim, Henry was appointed as the new head coach, hoping to guide the club further up the table. The Frenchman was assistant manager of the Belgium national team when he joined Monaco and had declined an offer from Bordeaux not long before.
Henry’s spell at Monaco began in turbulent fashion, unable to gain a win in his first month. The first came against Caen, with another two wins the following month in the league and cup. However, the defeats still outweighed the victories, with the club sitting below the position they were in when Henry was appointed at the turn of year.
Henry recruited a number of players in the winter transfer window, including former teammate Cesc Fabregas, as well as the experienced Naldo and William Vainqueur. These players were unable to give Henry the helping hand he’d hoped for and, as a result, he was dismissed of his duties on 24 January. He recorded just four wins, five draws and 11 defeats in his three-month stint. Jardim was reappointed as his successor, with Monaco currently sitting in 16th place.
A Chance to Redeem Himself
The 41-year-old’s first managerial stint at Monaco would be enough to scare off others of going back into the role, but not in Henry’s case. According to Sky Sports, Henry has been in talks with New York Red Bulls, who are sitting tenth in the 12-team MLS Eastern Conference.
Henry would join Red Bulls in a similar position as to that of which when he joined Monaco, despite no relegation system in place in the States. This could be a great chance for Henry to sustain himself and his style of management away from the spotlight, and with some time could see him earn a job back in Europe.
This would also be a smart move for the New Jersey side in terms of a commercial aspect and could see more learning managers from Europe move over to the MLS in the future. Red Bulls’ head of global soccer, Oliver Mintzlaff, is to fly to London to finalise a deal.
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