𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Thierry Henry has terminated his contract as a France u21 manager

Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker, has recently resigned from his position as France Under-21s manager after leading his country to a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. This decision comes just after he signed a two-year deal to manage the side in 2023.

Henry led an under-23 side on home turf at the Paris Games, where France lost the final 5-3 to Spain in extra time. While his contract had been due to run until after next year’s European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia, Henry has chosen to step away from the role, citing personal reasons for his departure.

In a statement, Henry expressed his deep pride, saying, “Winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games for my country will remain one of the greatest prides of my life.” He also extended his gratitude to the France Football Federation, the players, the staff, and the supporters, emphasizing the magical experience he had during his tenure.

The France Football Federation expressed regret over Henry’s decision, acknowledging that he had “achieved the objectives set for him.” Despite his brief tenure, Henry’s impact was notable, as he won four of his six matches in charge of the under-21s and eight of his 11 games in charge of the Olympic team, which included notable strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Jean-Philippe Mateta as overage players.

During the Olympics, France emerged victorious in their group stage matches against the USA, Guinea, and New Zealand. They continued their impressive run by defeating Argentina and Egypt in the knockout stages before ultimately succumbing to Spain in the final. Henry’s illustrious playing career, during which he won 123 caps for France and scored 51 goals, adds additional weight to his role as a manager and his overall impact on French football.