Henry set for France national team job

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is set for a new role in management, as the former Premier League star is reportedly set to take over as head coach of France’s U21 team in the coming days. 

The former Barcelona and Juventus forward will reportedly replace Sylvain Ripoll, who was axed from the role he held for six years after a disappointing end to the U21 Euros, where France was knocked out at the quarterfinal stage by Ukraine despite having some of the best talent on show in the whole tournament. 

Henry could be set to return to management two years after his last full-time role as a first-team head coach, with a chance to mould some of France’s young talents for the next few years. 

The French Football Federation executive committee will meet on Monday, with Henry’s appointment set to be on the agenda of the federation. 

The current CBS Golazo co-host beat off competition from former Lille manager Jocelyn Gourvennec, former Strasbourg and Rennes boss Julien Stephan, as well as former Cardiff and Ivory Coast manager Sabri Lamouchi. 

Henry has not enjoyed a remotely successful career as a manager compared to his playing career, after unsuccessful spells as head coach of Monaco, where he lost 11 of 20 games in charge, winning only four, and Montreal Impact, where he lost 16 of 29 games in charge, winning just nine. 

With a role slightly different from his previous two managerial positions, Henry will look to develop the talent in the French U21 side into first-team regulars for the senior side.