Thierry Henry leaves Sky Sports to concentrate on coaching career

[Brophs]

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...-sky-sports-to-concentrate-on-coaching-career

Thierry Henry is leaving Sky Sports to concentrate on his coaching career.

Henry, who joined the Sky Sports team in 2015, has been Belgium's assistant manager since 2016 under Roberto Martinez, and returns from this summer's World Cup after a third-place finish in Russia.

The 40-year-old has offered his expert analysis on English football's biggest matches over the past three-and-a-half seasons, as well as interviewing the Premier League's top names in Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, Harry Kane and more.

Henry said on social media: "Over the last four years I have had some extremely rewarding coaching experiences in football. These experiences have only made me more determined to fulfil my long-term ambition to become a football manager.

"It is with sadness, therefore, that I have decided that I must leave Sky Sports to enable me to spend more time on the pitch and concentrate on my journey to achieving that goal.

"I would like to thank everyone at Sky for making me feel so welcome and at ease throughout my time with them and I wish them all the best for the future. Great memories."

During his playing career, Henry lifted more than 35 major individual and team trophies including the World Cup and European Championship for France, the Champions League and La Liga with Barcelona, the Premier League and FA Cup at Arsenal, the French League at Monaco and the MLS Shield with the New York Red Bulls.

He was twice winner of the European Golden boot, four times winner of the English Premier League Golden Boot, five times winner of the French Player of the Year, three-time winner of the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year at Arsenal and twice winner of the PFA Players' Player of the Year.

Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said: "Thierry is a true Premier League legend and we've loved having him as part of our coverage. For four years he has helped us take viewers closer to the game, getting tremendous insight in speaking to the biggest names in football and analysing matches as someone fresh from the dressing room of the biggest clubs.

"We're sorry he's leaving us but we've known he has a real passion for coaching and he has our full support in making that career every bit as successful as his playing days."

Shite pundit, tbf. At least this means no more weird, awkward interviews with players who have to listen to him tell them how brilliant they are for 15 mins.

 

[Acole9]

That's a shame, quite liked him as a pundit.

 

[Wiltord02]

Legend.

I will miss his round the houses punditry driving Souness mental.

 

[Canagel]

I liked Henry as a pundit. Will be missed at Carrington I guess.

 

[TwoSheds]

Isn't it a bit weird for a media organisation to say he's "got their full support" rather than just wish him well when he goes to a different industry?

 

[11101]

Shame, I quite liked him. Its always good to have a) a player who played sometime in the last century and b) was world class.

 

[charlenefan]

Damn shame, very good pundit

 

[EyeInTheSky]

He should come to United as a motivational coach. He could be the good cop to Mourinho's bad cop. He can be Martial's mentor.

 

[Cheesy]

Get the feeling he'll be turning up in some big managerial roles before long.

 

[Pexbo]

Would absolutely love it if Mourinho brought him in to continue working with Lukaku and I wouldn’t rule it out either.

 

[Dobba]

Would absolutely love it if Mourinho brought him in to continue working with Lukaku and I wouldn’t rule it out either.

Surely he'll end up at Arsenal in some capacity?

 

[Damien]

Would love to have him here in a coaching capacity for say a year or two before he goes into management. If he's to go anywhere though it is pretty nailed on to be Arsenal.

 

[yumtum]

Thierry Henry is 40, damn.

 

[Sylar]

If he had done this a year or two ago like Wenger wanted, he would have been at Arsenal right? UNless he was waiting for Wenger to leave? hmm

 

[FujiVice]

Put Lukaku to one side for a minute, I think Martial would benefit greatly from Henry. He'd be perfect for him.

 

[ti vu]

Not a controversial pundit, but kinda yes man at sometimes. He wouldn't be great entertaining pundit while hes some good feedback at the coach. Very young in coach age, so I think it's great decision to concentrate on coaching. Coaching would require plenty of experience and timing. Surely he wouldn't want to miss when good position open just because he doesn't prepare himself with experience, connection, backroom staffs... He can always come back to punditry any time, evidently bunch of failed coaches are pundits.

 

[Green_Red]

Isn't it a bit weird for a media organisation to say he's "got their full support" rather than just wish him well when he goes to a different industry?

Skysports think he is retiring from their football club. Shouldnt be surprised by those bunch of twats really.

 

[Grylte]

I read cooking career...
Would be alot more interesting, or atleast funny

 

[#07]

Henry’s heart never seemed totally into punditry, best he concentrates on coaching.

 

[Zlatan 7]

Surely he'll end up at Arsenal in some capacity?

Well he’s French and ended up at Belgium so I guess anything is possible

 

[IrishRedDevil]

Fair play. Let the numpties stay on tv and hide from the real world.

I hope United offer him some kind of temporary coaching role. He seems to have admiration for United and has connections with the likes of Pogba, Lukaku and Martial.

 

[el3mel]

Great decision for him, bad decision for viewers as he'll surely be replaced by a crap pundit.

 

[devil in me]

More Souness and Redknapp!

 

[Valley Blue]

I enjoyed him as a pundit, always good to hear from a relatively recently retired, top class player.

I expect him to make a really good manager, he's a very bright individual, with a real passion for the game.

 

[luke511]

His punditry career started off very poorly but in the last year or two he definitely stepped it up. No doubt his time at Sky has improved his ability to express his opinion properly in English and will benefit him in his coaching career.

 

[villain]

Gonna miss his glistening beard and dapper suits.

What a beautiful man

 

[Zoo]

Meanwhile Redknapp will continue spouting hot air on there for years to come.

 

[Denis79]

More Souness and Redknapp!

Dear fecking me... Souness... Can't stand the man.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

Never liked him really, but when you compare him with Souness, Redknapp, Neville, and the loss of credibility Carragher, then it's a big loss, especially as very likeable Lampard won't be about this season either, they really need some new blood.

 

[fallengt]

He has to start from somewhere first. Ask him to join us as attacking coach .

 

[royboy16]

Isn't it a bit weird for a media organisation to say he's "got their full support" rather than just wish him well when he goes to a different industry?

Left the door open for him if it doesn't work out perhaps?

 

[Ballache]

Get him in as an attacking coach, he seems to have morphed into a United fan ever since retiring anyway.

 

[stubie]

Sky need to get rid of Sournes and Redknapp, need to freshen it up

Also the entire Soccer Saturday panel need replacing alongside Kamara

 

[stu_1992]

He grew on me as a pundit so it's a bit disappointing he's going. Especially if I have to listen to even more Redknapp. Hopefully they get someone decent in to replace him.

 

[Massive Spanner]

That's disappointing. Really liked him at it. Thought his views on Utd were pretty unbiased too.

Carragher is the only other Sky Sports pundit I can actually tolerate these days (and Neville, unless he's talking about Utd) and, well... not sure how much screen time he'll get anymore.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

Isn't it a bit weird for a media organisation to say he's "got their full support" rather than just wish him well when he goes to a different industry?

This. Had to read that bit twice.

Damn shame, very good pundit

Seconded.

 

[CA1]

I actually thought he was a poor pundit, he wasn't great at getting ideas across. He came across a good guy though after me hating him as a player.

He could have a lot to offer in the coaching world, good luck to him.

 

[FootyGirl88]

Thierry Henry is 40, damn.

He looks amazing

 

[Robbie Boy]

I’m gona miss the sexy Frenchman.

 

[yumtum]

He looks amazing

Yeah he's dreamy.