French football legend Thierry Henry has resigned as the head coach of France’s Under-21 team, just over a week after leading the national side to a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona star cited “personal reasons” for his sudden departure, leaving fans and the French Football Federation (FFF) surprised by the announcement.
Henry, who signed a two-year contract with the FFF in 2023, was originally appointed to lead the Under-21 side until the summer of 2025.
His mandate was clear: to guide the youth team and the Under-23 Olympic squad, aiming to secure a strong performance on home soil during the Paris Olympics.
Despite achieving this goal by reaching the final, where France narrowly lost to Spain, Henry has now decided to step down, ending his tenure earlier than expected.
In a statement released on Monday, Henry expressed his gratitude to the FFF and the players for the opportunity to lead the team. “I would like to thank the FFF and President Philippe Diallo who offered me this incredible opportunity.
“Winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games for my country will remain one of the greatest prides of my life. I am incredibly grateful to the Federation, the players, the staff, and the supporters who allowed me to live a magical experience,” Henry said.
This announcement marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter in Henry’s coaching career. The 47-year-old was brought in to inject his experience and expertise into the young French squad, with hopes that his leadership would culminate in Olympic glory.
Although the team fell just short of gold, their silver medal achievement was the first Olympic football medal for France in 40 years, following their bronze win at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
FFF President Philippe Diallo expressed his disappointment at Henry’s decision but acknowledged the significant contributions he made during his time as coach.
“We obviously regret this decision because Thierry was able to achieve the objectives that had been set for him by winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, 40 years after the Olympic medal in Los Angeles.
“Having followed him throughout this campaign, I was able to discover his great professionalism, his rigour and his love of the blue jersey. We wish him good luck for the rest of his career,” Diallo said.
Thierry Henry’s coaching career has seen its fair share of ups and downs. After retiring from professional football, Henry began his journey into coaching with roles at Arsenal, where he worked with the youth teams. He then took on managerial roles at AS Monaco and CF Montreal, with mixed results. His stint at Monaco, in particular, was challenging, as the team struggled under his leadership, leading to his dismissal in January 2019.
However, Henry’s reputation as a footballing icon and his wealth of experience on the pitch have continued to make him a sought-after figure in the world of football management.
