Arsenal’s Academy Manager, Andries Jonker, has revealed that Thierry Henry is now working with the club’s under-18 squad on a regular basis.
Following in the footsteps of fellow ‘Invincibles’ Sol Campbell, Jens Lehmann and Patrick Vieira, the Frenchman began working towards his UEFA B licence under the guidance of the Welsh FA back in January.
Henry’s initial work with the Gunners involved sessions with younger prospects at Hale End and he’s since progressed up the ranks to work with those closer to the first team.
Confirming that the legendary striker had made a direct request to take up a role at London Colney, the Dutchman told Adrian Clarke on the Breakdown that he was happy to add Henry to his staff.
“Thierry has started his courses to become a coach. He started last year at Hale End and now he has asked for the possibility to stay with the under-18s five days a week during the whole week. Of course, we allow him.
“He’s very motivated, he’s here at eight in the morning and leaving late in the afternoon. I’ll involve him in the youth league staff as well.”
Earlier this week Henry touched on why he’s returned to the training ground following a stellar career at the top of the game. “Basically I’m trying to give back what I’ve learned, you know advice.” he told Arsenal Player.
“Also I’m trying to learn; how do you prepare a session? How do you coach? How do you conduct yourself as a coach?
“It’s not that easy, but obviously being around those kids, I see myself when I was their [age] too. I would have loved a guy to explain some stuff to me and make sure I can take that on board. That’s what I’m trying to do.
“I can talk about the game forever, I’m pretty boring like that sometimes. That’s the aim of it. I’m more than happy to be around here [London Colney] and hopefully what I say to the kids will help them.”
If Henry is to succeed as a coach he’s got a pretty good mentor to lean on in Arsene Wenger. The senior statesman, who has been a manager for 31 years, has warned though that a touchline role is very different to that assumed on the pitch.
“He will discover what the job is about and you have to go through that process if you want to one day manage a football team,” the manager told Arsenal Player.
“The job of a player is centred on you and the job of a coach is centred on others. You find you just focus on others and how you can help them.
“It demands a psychological and mental transformation that is not always easy. It also demands how to get what you know is available in other people in the most simplistic way.”
king of the north!!!
And ..learning that ‘simplistic’ way is the most complicated part of becoming a coach.. I guess..
“I can talk about the game forever, I’m pretty boring like that sometimes..” Please King Henry I wouldn’t mind being bored by you all day 24/7
It’s already happening … on Sky Sports.
Love you TITI but you’re future hopefully lies in management and not with those twats on the faceless Sky Evil Megacorp, a company that employs Jamie Redknob to speak English and articulate the game.
WENGER SLAMS HENRY!
His punditry so far has been far from inspirational… And if that’s anything to go by he may turn out to be a classic “great at football, shit at management”. That said I’d like nothing better than to see him in the dug out one day.
I didn’t realize “talent” at punditry was a good proxy for whether someone is going to be a good manager or not.
It’s not just the lack of talent as a pundit that I find underwhelming. He’s felt fit to criticize Giroud in a personal fashion as well as the team, it’s need for strengthening. At on point he declared the team needed four more players to challenge. He’s paid ( a ludicrous) four million quid a year to spout bland crap on TV….he’s critical of players and the team yet invited to become a coach. Personally I think I would care more about Giroud, his state of mind as a current player than facilitate Henry before he decided which path he… Read more »
Sky Sport don’t pay him to be partisan and it would be wrong for him to go soft on Arsenal.
Hahaha dude, have you seen Neville bashing Wenger and his not signing anyone? Thierry defended Wenger clearly out of bias and affection for Arsenal and people bashed him for being too uncritical of his team. Then he thinks Giroud isn’t good and everyone else bashes him for being too critical of his own team!! What can Thierry fucking do in that situation??? If you want to say he’s fucking bland in front of the camera, yes I am 100% with you and that’s my personal opinion. To say he will be a shit coach just because he has the nerve… Read more »
Bergkamp’s Successor is being readied for 2035
News: Arsenal manager Thierry Henry emotionally hugs Daniel Crowley after the skipper scored the decisive spot kick that gives the team their third UCL title. That’s the treble complete now for the North London team.
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/006/077/so_good.png
Meanwhile on other *ahem* “new$” sites : “Wenger says Henry is not ready/fit to be a manager” “Wenger says Henry needs to completely change to be a manager”. Fucking shit stirrers.
“Henry works as coach.” Who cares? Complete non-story. Now that the boring international football is over I’m looking forward to the real thing. The Stoke game is now a massive one: an Arsenal defeat or even a draw will turn the atmosphere really nasty at the Grove. By not signing an outfield player this summer Wenger has made a huge rod for his own back; and after our stuttering start this match is now an absolutely must-win one. I can’t see us losing it, but if Stoke play with nine men behind the ball, and if our strikers continue to… Read more »
I care, because I like seeing the involvement of former players still with the club. It shows dedication and loyalty. All I see coming out of you is negativity. Every. FUCKING. DAY. Sick of it.
Mr positive better go to the hospital if you are sick, for the other one in caps you a gf
Yea true, he needs a gf
Why bother to comment if you don’t care?
Are you still talking about transfers? Move on. Everyone has stated their opinion and no one is changing their opinion. The lack of business is a sunk cost that can’t be changed. Bringing it up at every opportunity to hurt Arsene is immature at best, and it definitely doesn’t create helpful/productive/meaningful discussion about Arsenal.
“Fatgooner makes tired non story remark reminding everyone he knows much more football than everyone else.” Who cares? Complete non-story
-about football he knows- excuse the English
You’re spot on. Who cares?
Former club great joins staff in a coaching role is actually the opposite of a non-story.
Perhaps you’re too greatly embedded into the sensationalised culture of modern press copy where everything must be SLAMMED, or CRISIS, or SPLASH THE CASH for it to be worthy of reading, as though football news needs to look like a bawdy 1980’s Batman comic.
This is an article imparting information about a subject the readers care about in an informative manner.
But…but….where’s the controversy? Where’s the hate and anger? How can anyone make stories without those things???
A wailing wailler must always rant.
‘Last two lines’ – Wenger is a literary genius, argue with Coquelin
I just got a vision of Henry running round the training ground shouting “How do I reeeeach these keeeeeeeeeeds”
Let’s all us Gooners have faith in our team it’s early days & I’m sure we will still come out on top of all this we still have a great team behind us & there is always the next transfer window around Christmas period & I’m sure that Mr Wenger as got something up his sleeve to sort this all out so let’s all be patient & have faith in our boys… Come on you Gunners…
Have faith in Wenger… Right, okay
I’d love to be a fly on the wall when him and Giroud bump into eachother
The only people who think Henry is a good player is Wenger and Skysports. He has won 2 titles with Arsenal thats all , 1 CL as a SUB.
He is the one of the most over rated player l have ever come across , yet the way Sky are going about it as if he won so many titles and person awards whichhe did,nt. He went to Barc and FLOPPED.
What planet are you from? Are you a six year old on drugs?