Arsenal’s legendary striker Thierry Henry is getting ready to play the last game of his contract with New York Red Bulls today, and he is keeping very quiet about his next career move. There is every chance that he may continue his playing career (maybe in India with some other old Arsenal team-mates?) but surely at 37 years of age he may certainly be considering a bash at management.
He still retains his talent in front of goal but his global experiences should have given him a good basis for being a successful coach, especially with his inside knowledge of how Wenger does his job, so should Arsenal bring him to the Emirates as a boost for the younger players (for now!)?
Arsene Wenger doesn’t rule out the possibility, but has made it clear that Henry would not return simply as a talisman due to his legend status at Arsenal….
“It’s not impossible” Wenger said. “I welcome people who have played for us to come back, but they need to do something, It has to be a job available and one that you get up in the morning and you have to do something – not an honorary job.
“He has to learn his job first. I have seen so many people who have the qualities to be a manager but not survive their first job because they are not ready. When you are a football player, you think it’s so simple to be a manager. When you are a manager, you think it’s so complicated suddenly and, if you’re not prepared for that, you cannot survive.
“You learn to handle a dressing room and people. This job is about ideas and putting them into practice. You can only do that if you have the responsibility of the team.”
Okay Wenger, well in that case give him a job coaching the Arsenal youth team so he can get a taste of teaching and improving youngsters. There is no doubt that he has always been an inspiration when he has returned to training with us during the American close season, and if he could only pass on half of his ability to players like Welbeck, Sanogo and Giroud it would be an awesome bonus!
How many of you want to see him return? Imagine one day a management team of Bergkamp and Henry back at Arsenal. I’m drooling……