Former football star Thierry Henry to coach France at 2024 Olympics
Thierry Henry was on Monday named as coach of France's Under-21s and will be in charge of the team competing at next year's Olympics in Paris.
Issued on: Modified:
The 46-year-old former Arsenal and France striker replaces Sylvain Ripoll and returns to management after leaving his role as Belgium assistant following last year's World Cup.
Henry, who won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France, has struggled to hit the same heights in coaching that he reached as a player.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 est nommé sélectionneur de l’Équipe de France Espoirs, jusqu’en 2025 ✍️
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) August 21, 2023
L’ancien international dirigera les Bleuets pour la prochaine campagne de qualification à l’Euro U21 2025 et pour les Jeux Olympiques de Paris 2024 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/Bj59AzydZF
He lasted barely three months as Monaco coach in the 2018-19 season and stepped down at MLS club Montreal Impact in February 2021 after just over a year at the helm.
He has also worked previously with Arsenal's youth teams and twice served on the Belgium coaching staff, helping the country finish third at the 2018 World Cup.
Henry, scorer of 51 goals in 123 games for France, has been working as a TV consultant in recent times.
He could have a team built around Kylian Mbappé at the Olympics, with the France captain making no secret of his desire to play at the tournament, which is largely reserved for players aged 23 or younger.
Henry's first match as France Under-21 coach is a friendly against Denmark in Nancy on September 7, four days before his team's opening Euro 2025 qualifier away to Slovenia.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning
Subscribe