Thierry Henry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Thierry Henry

Henry in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Thierry Daniel Henry
Date of birth	(1977-08-17) 17 August 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth	Les Ulis, France
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1983–1989	CO Les Ulis
1989–1990	US Palaiseau
1990–1992	Viry-Châtillon
1990–1992	INF Clairefontaine
1992–1994	Monaco
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1995	Monaco B	19	(6)
1994–1999	Monaco	105	(20)
1999	Juventus	16	(3)
1999–2007	Arsenal	254	(174)
2007–2010	Barcelona	80	(35)
2010–2014	New York Red Bulls	122	(51)
2012	→ Arsenal (loan)	4	(1)
Total		600	(290)
International career
1997	France U20	5	(3)
1997–2010	France	123	(51)
Managerial career
2018–2019	Monaco
2019–2021	Montreal Impact
2023–2024	France U21
2024	France Olympic
Medal record Men's football Representing  France (as player) FIFA World Cup Winner 1998 France Runner-up 2006 Germany UEFA European Championship Winner 2000 Belgium–Netherlands FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 2003 France Representing  France (as manager) Olympic Games Silver 2024 Paris Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Thierry Daniel Henry (born 17 August 1977) is a famous French football coach and former player. Many people think he is one of the greatest strikers of all time. He is also considered one of the best players in Premier League history. Arsenal even named him their greatest player ever.

Henry started his professional career with Monaco in 1994. Later, he joined Juventus in Italy. In 1999, he moved to Arsenal in England. There, his coach Arsène Wenger helped him become a top striker. Henry became Arsenal's all-time leading scorer with 228 goals. He won many awards, including the Premier League Golden Boot four times. He also helped Arsenal win two FA Cups and two Premier League titles. One of these titles was during an unbeaten season, where Arsenal was known as the "Invincibles".

After Arsenal, Henry played for Barcelona from 2007 to 2010. In the 2008–09 season, he was a key part of the team that won a historic "treble". This meant they won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League all in one season. He then joined the Major League Soccer (MLS) club New York Red Bulls in 2010. He also had a short loan return to Arsenal in 2012 before retiring in 2014.

Henry also had a very successful career with the French national team. He helped France win the 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2000, and the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. He became France's record goalscorer in 2007. He retired from international football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, having played 123 games and scored 51 goals.

After his playing career, Henry became a coach. He started with Arsenal's youth teams in 2015. He also worked as an assistant coach for Belgium. In 2018, he became the head coach for Monaco, and later for Montréal Impact in MLS. He also coached the France U21 and France Olympic teams.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Thierry Henry's family comes from the French West Indies. His father is from Guadeloupe and his mother is from Martinique. He grew up in Les Ulis, a suburb of Paris, France. This area had good football facilities.

When Henry was only seven years old, he showed great talent in football. A local club, CO Les Ulis, quickly signed him. His father encouraged him to train a lot, even though Henry wasn't always eager to go. He later played for other youth clubs like US Palaiseau and ES Viry-Châtillon.

Club Career Highlights

Starting Out: Monaco and Juventus (1992–1999)

In 1990, when Henry was 13, a scout from Monaco saw him play. Henry scored all six goals in a 6–0 win! The scout was so impressed that he invited Henry to join Monaco without a tryout. Henry also attended the famous INF Clairefontaine football academy.

He signed his first professional contract with Monaco and made his debut in 1994. His coach, Arsène Wenger, believed Henry would be a great striker. However, he played Henry on the left wing at first. This was because Henry's speed and ball control were very effective against defenders.

Henry quickly became a rising star. In 1996, he was named the French Young Footballer of the Year. He helped Monaco win the Ligue 1 title in the 1996–97 season. In the 1997–98 season, he scored seven goals in the UEFA Champions League. This was a French record at the time.

In January 1999, Henry moved to the Italian club Juventus. He played on the wing there, but he didn't score many goals. He only scored three goals in 16 games. He later said he had disagreements with the club's management.

Becoming a Star: Arsenal Success (1999–2007)

On 3 August 1999, Henry joined Arsenal for about £11 million. He was reunited with his former coach, Arsène Wenger. Wenger immediately changed Henry's position to a striker. This decision turned out to be a brilliant one.

At first, some people doubted if Henry could succeed in the tough English league. He didn't score in his first eight games. But he quickly proved them wrong. He finished his first season with 26 goals. Arsenal finished second in the league and reached the UEFA Cup Final.

The 2001–02 season brought Henry his first major trophies with Arsenal. He became the league's top scorer with 24 goals. Arsenal won the Premier League title and the FA Cup, achieving a "double".

In the 2002–03 season, Henry continued to shine. He scored 32 goals and made 23 assists. He helped Arsenal win another FA Cup. He was also named the PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year. He even set a new record for most assists in a single Premier League season.

The 2003–04 season was truly special. Henry was a key player as Arsenal went through the entire league season unbeaten. They won the Premier League title without losing a single game. Henry scored 39 goals in all competitions and won the European Golden Shoe. He was also named the PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year again.

In 2005, Henry became Arsenal's captain. On 17 October 2005, he became the club's all-time top goalscorer. He broke Ian Wright's record of 185 goals. He also became the first player to score 100 league goals at Arsenal's home stadium, Highbury.

The 2005–06 season saw Henry lead Arsenal to the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final. They lost to Barcelona, but it was a great achievement. Henry finished the season as the league's top scorer again. He was also voted FWA Footballer of the Year for the third time.

Barcelona and a Historic Treble (2007–2010)

In June 2007, Henry made a big move to Barcelona in Spain. He signed a four-year deal. Henry said he left Arsenal because of changes at the club. He felt his presence might have even held the team back.

At Barcelona, Henry wore the number 14 jersey. He scored his first goal for the club in September 2007. He also scored his first hat-trick for Barcelona soon after. He finished his first season as the club's top scorer with 19 goals.

The 2008–09 season was amazing for Henry. He scored 26 goals and made 10 assists. He helped Barcelona win the Copa del Rey, La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League. This was a historic "treble" of trophies. Henry, Lionel Messi, and Samuel Eto'o formed a powerful attacking trio. They scored 100 goals together that season. Later in 2009, Barcelona won an incredible six trophies in one year!

In the next season, Henry played fewer games. This was because of the rise of another talented player, Pedro. In May 2010, Barcelona announced that Henry would be leaving the club.

New York Red Bulls and Retirement (2010–2014)

In July 2010, Henry joined the Major League Soccer (MLS) club New York Red Bulls in the United States. He quickly made an impact, assisting two goals in his first game. He scored his first MLS goal in August.

Return to Arsenal (loan)

In January 2012, Henry returned to Arsenal for a two-month loan. This was to help the team while other players were away. He wore the number 12 jersey. He scored the winning goal in his first game back against Leeds United in the FA Cup. In his last league game on loan, he scored another winning goal. These goals meant he finished his Arsenal career with a record 228 goals.

Return to New York Red Bulls

Henry returned to the Red Bulls in February 2012. He was the highest-paid player in MLS for a while. In March 2012, he scored his first MLS hat-trick. In 2013, he helped the Red Bulls win their first major trophy, the Supporters' Shield. This meant they were champions of the regular season.

On 12 July 2014, Henry became the all-time assist leader for the New York Red Bulls. He left the club on 1 December 2014. On 16 December, he announced his retirement as a player. He then began working as a football expert for Sky Sports.

International Career with France

Henry had a very successful career playing for the French national team. He earned his first cap in June 1997. He played for the Under-20 French national team before joining the senior team.

In October 1997, Henry made his senior international debut. His coach, Aimé Jacquet, was so impressed that he included Henry in the 1998 FIFA World Cup squad. Henry was not well-known internationally, but he ended the tournament as France's top scorer with three goals. France went on to win the World Cup, beating Brazil 3–0 in the final.

Henry was also a key player in France's UEFA Euro 2000 victory. He scored three goals, including the equalizer in the semi-final against Portugal. France defeated Italy in the final, earning Henry his second major international medal. He was named man of the match in three games, including the final.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup was disappointing for France. They were eliminated in the group stage without scoring a single goal. Henry received a red card in one match.

Henry returned to form at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. France won the tournament, largely thanks to Henry's amazing play. He scored the golden goal in extra time in the final against Cameroon. He was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player and the Golden Shoe as the top goalscorer.

In UEFA Euro 2004, Henry scored two goals. France reached the quarter-finals but lost to eventual winners Greece. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Henry was a regular starter. He scored three goals, including the winning goal against defending champions Brazil in the quarter-final. France reached the final but lost to Italy in a penalty shoot-out.

On 13 October 2007, Henry scored his 41st goal for France. This made him the country's all-time top goalscorer, matching Michel Platini. Four days later, he scored two more goals, setting a new record. On 3 June 2008, Henry played his 100th game for the national team.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers were tough for France. During a play-off game against the Republic of Ireland, Henry was involved in a controversial moment. He used his hand to control the ball before passing it for the winning goal. This caused a lot of discussion. Henry later said he thought about retiring from international football because of the reaction.

Henry did not start many games at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. France had a difficult tournament and were eliminated in the group stage. After the tournament, Henry announced his retirement from international football. He finished his career with 123 games and 51 goals for France.

How Thierry Henry Played

When Henry was young, he played as a striker. But at Monaco and Juventus, he played on the wing. When he joined Arsenal, coach Wenger moved him back to striker. He often played alongside Dennis Bergkamp.

Henry was known for his calm finishing in one-on-one situations. His father said Henry learned to shoot precisely from watching his idol Marco van Basten. Henry was also inspired by other great strikers like Romário and Ronaldo. These players could run with the ball from outside the penalty area and score.

Henry was very fast and skilled at dribbling past defenders. He could easily get behind them to score. Former Arsenal player Alan Smith said, "I haven't seen a player like him. He's an athlete with great technical ability."

Henry often moved to the left wing, which helped him create many assists. Between 2002 and 2005, he made almost 50 assists. This showed his unselfish play and creativity. FourFourTwo magazine called him the greatest player in Premier League history. They said, "No one assisted more in a season. No one has terrorized defenders with such a combination of bewitching grace and phenomenal power."

Henry's famous move was to cut in from the left wing and shoot the ball into the far right corner of the goal. He was also good at beating the offside trap by running back onside. Henry was also Arsenal's first choice for penalties and free kicks. He scored many goals from these set pieces.

Coaching Career

Arsenal Youth Coach

Henry started coaching Arsenal's youth teams in February 2015. He worked alongside his job as a football expert for Sky Sports. Young players like Alex Iwobi praised Henry's help and advice. He earned a UEFA A Licence for coaching.

Assistant Coach for Belgium

In August 2016, Henry became the second assistant coach for the Belgium national team. He worked with head coach Roberto Martínez. Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku said Henry was the "best thing that has happened to me" because of his coaching. At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Belgium reached the semi-finals but lost to France. Henry helped Belgium win a Bronze medal by beating England in the third-place play-off.

Head Coach at Monaco

On 11 October 2018, Henry was appointed head coach of his former club, Monaco. He signed a three-year deal. Henry said it was a "dream come true" to return to the club. He wanted to bring the style of football he played under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.

However, Henry's time at Monaco was difficult. The club was struggling when he arrived. He was unable to secure a win for over a month. He signed some new players in January 2019, including his former Arsenal teammate Cesc Fàbregas. But the team's results did not improve. On 24 January 2019, Henry was dismissed as Monaco's coach. He had a record of 4 wins, 5 draws, and 11 defeats in 20 games.

Manager of Montreal Impact

On 14 November 2019, Henry became the manager of the Major League Soccer team Montreal Impact. He signed a two-year deal. Henry said he had to "confront" the disappointment of his time at Monaco before taking this new job.

He led Montreal to their first playoff spot in four seasons. However, on 25 February 2021, Henry stepped down as head coach. He wanted to be closer to his children in London. Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic had made it hard for him to see them.

Return to Belgium (assistant)

In May 2021, Henry rejoined the coaching staff of Belgium. He was also part of the team's coaching staff for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In February 2023, it was announced that Henry would not return to the national team's coaching staff.

France U21 and Olympic Coach

On 21 August 2023, Henry was named the new manager of the France national under-21 team. This also meant he would coach the France Olympic team at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. He led the Olympic team to a silver medal, losing to Spain in the final. He resigned as U21 coach on 19 August 2024.

Life Outside Football

Media and Broadcasting

After leaving Montreal, Henry continued his career as a football expert. He joined CBS Sports to analyze UEFA Champions League games. He also worked for Amazon Prime Video for their Premier League and Ligue 1 shows.

Personal Life

Henry married English model Nicole Merry in 2003. They had a daughter named Téa in 2005. Henry often dedicated his goals to her. They later divorced in 2007. Since 2011, Henry has been with his second wife, Andrea Rajačić. They have three children together. In 2024, Henry shared that he had struggled with depression during his career.

Interest in Basketball

Henry is a big fan of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He often watches games with his friend, basketball player Tony Parker. Henry enjoys basketball because it is similar to football in its speed and excitement. He has attended many NBA Finals games.

On Screen Appearances

Henry has made small appearances in films and TV shows. He had a cameo in the 2015 film Entourage. He also appeared as himself in the Apple TV+ football comedy series Ted Lasso. Henry was also featured in the Amazon Original sports docuseries All or Nothing: Arsenal. This show followed Arsenal behind the scenes during their 2021–22 season.

Helping Others

Henry is a member of the UNICEF-FIFA squad. He has appeared in TV ads to promote football for children. He is also a strong voice against racism in football. He has experienced racism himself. Henry and Nike started the Stand Up Speak Up campaign to fight racism in football. In 2007, Time magazine named him one of the "Heroes & Pioneers" on their list of the world's most influential people.

Henry has also taken part in charity football games. In 2018, he played with his 1998 World Cup-winning teammates against an All-Star team. The money raised went to charity.

Commercial Deals

Henry has signed many endorsement deals throughout his career. He was valued as one of the most marketable footballers in the world.

Sportswear

Early in his career, Henry signed with Nike. He appeared in their "Secret Tournament" advertisement before the 2002 World Cup. He also featured in Nike's Joga Bonito campaign, which means "beautiful game". After 2006, Henry signed a deal with Reebok. He later switched to Puma boots in 2011.

Other Brands

Henry was famous for appearing in Renault Clio car advertisements. He popularized the phrase va-va-voom, which means "life" or "passion". This phrase was even added to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary.

In 2007, Henry became one of three global ambassadors for Gillette's "Champions Program". He appeared in commercials with Roger Federer and Tiger Woods. Henry was also part of Pepsi's "Dare For More" campaign in 2005. In 2014, he starred in an advert for Beats headphones with other football stars.

Henry was featured on the front cover of EA Sports' FIFA video game series from FIFA 2001 to FIFA 2005. He was also a cover star for the Konami Pro Evolution Soccer video game series.

Other Interests

In August 2022, Henry became an investor and part-owner of the Italian football club Como.

Honours

Player

Monaco

• Division 1: 1996–97

Arsenal

• Premier League: 2001–02, 2003–04
• FA Cup: 2001–02, 2002–03
• FA Community Shield: 2002, 2004
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2005–06
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 1999–2000

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09
• Supercopa de España: 2009
• UEFA Champions League: 2008–09
• UEFA Super Cup: 2009
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2009

New York Red Bulls

• Supporters' Shield: 2013
• MLS Eastern Conference: 2010, 2013

France U20

• Toulon Tournament: 1997

France

• FIFA World Cup: 1998; runner-up: 2006
• UEFA European Championship: 2000
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2003

Individual Awards

• Ballon d'Or runner-up: 2003; third-place: 2006
• FIFA World Player of the Year silver award: 2003, 2004
• European Golden Shoe: 2003–04, 2004–05
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
• FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball: 2003
• FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Shoe: 2003
• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2002–03, 2003–04
• PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
• FWA Footballer of the Year: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06
• Premier League Player of the Season: 2003–04, 2005–06
• Premier League Golden Boot: 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
• Most assists in the Premier League: 2002–03
• Premier League Player of the Month: April 2000, September 2002, January 2004, April 2004
• Arsenal Player of the Season: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
• MLS Best XI: 2011, 2012, 2014
• MLS Player of the Month: March 2012
• French Player of the Year: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2006
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2000
• FIFA 100: 2004 (named by Pelé as one of the greatest living players)
• English Football Hall of Fame: 2008
• Premier League Hall of Fame: 2021

Orders

• Knight of the Legion of Honour: 1998 (France's highest award)

Manager

France Olympic

• Summer Olympics silver medal: 2024

Records

Arsenal Records

• All-time top scorer: 228 goals
• Most league goals: 175 goals
• Most European goals: 42
• Most Champions League goals: 35
• Most Premier League goals in a season: 30 (2003–04) (shared)
• Most Premier League hat-tricks: 8
• Most European appearances: 86
• Most Champions League appearances: 78
• Most Arsenal Player of the Season Awards: 4

Continental Records

• Only player to win back-to-back European Golden Shoes (shared with others)
• Only French player to win the European Golden Shoe

England Records

• Most FWA Footballer of the Year wins: 3 (2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06)
• Most consecutive FWA Footballer of the Year wins: 2 (shared)
• Most consecutive PFA Players' Player of the Year wins: 2 (shared)
• Most PFA Players' Player of the Year wins: 2 (shared)

France Records

• Most French Player of the Year wins: 5 (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
• Most consecutive French Player of the Year wins: 4 (2003–2006)
• Most appearances at World Cup final tournaments for France: 4 (shared)

Premier League Records

• Most assists in a season: 20 (2002–03) (shared)
• Most goals with right foot in a 38-game season: 24 (2005–06) (shared)
• Most Player of the Season awards: 2 (shared)
• Most goals in London derbies: 43
• Most Golden Boot wins: 4
• Most goals on a Friday: 10
• Most consecutive 20+ goal seasons: 5 (shared)
• Most goals scored under one manager: 175 goals under Arsène Wenger
• Most goals at a single ground: 114 goals at Highbury
• Most direct free kick goals by a foreign player: 12 (shared)
• Most Golden Boots won in consecutive years: 3 (shared)
• Only player to both score and assist 20+ goals in a season (2002–03)

Images for kids

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  Henry speaking against online bullying at the Web Summit in 2021

In Spanish: Thierry Henry para niños

• List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances
• List of top international men's football goalscorers by country
• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
• List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals