Thierry Henry confirmed as new manager by Monaco

It’s official. Thierry Henry is returning to the club where he began his professional career. The Frenchman was appointed head coach of Ligue 1 side Monaco on a three-year contract. Henry replaces Leonardo Jardim who was fired last week. Henry leaves his assistant role with the Belgian national team to accept his first managerial position.

Monaco issued a press release with glowing praise for its new manager:

New coach of AS Monaco, Thierry Henry arrives in the Principality in a club he knows well. Formed at AS Monaco, the former French international has worn the red and white jersey 142 times. It was the beginning of a golden career.

Henry began his senior playing career as a striker with Monaco. In 1996 he was named French Young Footballer of the Year and was part of the team that won the Ligue 1 title in 1996-1997.

After a brief stint with Juventus, Henry moved to London where he went on to become Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer. He finished off his successful playing career with Barcelona and the New York Red Bulls.

On the international circuit Henry was capped by France 123 times and scored 51 goals. He was a member of his country’s 1998 World Cup winning side and the 2000 European championship team.

Henry always expressed an interest in moving in to management and got his first chance in the summer of 2016 when he was hired to work alongside Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez.

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Henry joins another Arsenal great, Patrick Vieira, in Ligue 1 management. Vieira left MLS side NYCFC over the summer to take over as head coach of Nice.

It should be interesting to see Henry’s Monaco take on Vieira’s Nice. Mark your calendars for December 8th and May 25th, 2019 for what Arsenal fans might call the “Invincibles Derbies.”