Thierry Henry

[Ange]

Thierry Henry

Thierry Daniel Henry (born 17 August 1977 in Les Ulis, Essonne, France) (IPA: [tjɛʀi ɑ̃ʀi]) is a French football player who plays as a striker for the French national team, and for the English club Arsenal, where he is the club's all-time leading scorer in both league matches and all competitions. He is now the captain of Arsenal, having replaced Patrick Vieira after the latter's departure for Juventus

Henry has been nominated three times for the FIFA World Player of the Year, finishing runner-up in 2003 and 2004. Also, he was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.[1] He was also named a starting striker on the 2006 FIFPro World XI team.

He has surpassed Ian Wright to take over as Arsenal's all-time leading scorer with over 200 goals for the club. In 2006, Henry became the first player to score more than twenty goals in five consecutive seasons (2002–2006). He won the European Golden Boot in 2004 and 2005, making him the first player to retain the trophy (the Golden Boot did not exist when Ally McCoist was the first player to have scored the highest number of goals in Europe two seasons in a row). He has received the Barclays Premiership player of the season award four times.

On 19 May 2006, after months of speculation linking him with Spanish club FC Barcelona, Henry renewed his contract at Arsenal under a 4-year deal until 2010.

First years at Monaco

Henry trained at Clairefontaine when he was six, one of the nine French Football Federation's elite academies and played at a youth level for CO Les Ulis (1983–1989), then Palaiseau (1989–1990), Viry-Châtillon (1990–1992) and FC Versailles (1992–1993). Henry started his professional career at AS Monaco and was given his début in 1994 by then Monaco manager, Arsène Wenger, at the age of 17. Wenger put Henry on the left wing because he believed that Henry's pace, natural ball control and skill would terrorise full-backs better than they would centre-backs. Wenger changed his view later, when he signed Henry for Arsenal.

Stint at Juventus

Having impressed in the French national team's triumph in the 1998 World Cup, Henry left Monaco and moved to Italian club Juventus along with David Trézéguet in January 1999 for £10.7 million. He was made to play on the wing. Unable to cope with Italian defensive discipline in an unfamiliar position, Henry scored just three goals in 13 appearances.

Arsenal career

Unsettled in Italy, he transferred from Juventus in August 1999 to Arsenal for £11 Million, reuniting with his former manager at Monaco. In one of his biggest masterstrokes as Arsenal manager, Wenger moulded Henry from a left winger into a striker. Some doubted whether he was cut out for the English Premiership, failing to score in his first ten games. However, he has flourished ever since first finding the net; Henry has been Arsenal's top goalscorer for each of the seven seasons he has been with the club.

Henry was made Arsenal captain in the summer of 2005, succeeding the departed Patrick Vieira. Regarded by many as Arsenal's best player ever, on October 17, 2005 Henry became the club's top goalscorer of all time; two goals against Sparta Prague meant he broke Ian Wright's record of 185 first-class goals. On February 1, 2006, he scored a goal against West Ham, bringing his league goal tally up to 151 and thus breaking Cliff Bastin's Arsenal league goals record. The 2005–06 season also saw him score his 100th league goal at Highbury, a feat unparalleled in the history of the club, and a unique achievement in the Premier League. He also contributes a large number of assists - most notably 23 in the 2002–03 season — an all-time Premiership record.

On May 7, 2006 Henry scored a hat-trick against Wigan Athletic in the club's final game at Highbury. In an emotionally-charged game that ended with Arsenal securing a place in next season's Champions League ahead of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the last of Henry's three strikes and the final goal at the old stadium, was a penalty in front of the North Bank. After scoring the penalty, Henry knelt down in a final gesture to kiss the Highbury pitch goodbye. In the UEFA Champions League, Arsenal led the group stages and only conceded 2 goals leading up to the final in Paris. A strike from Henry gave Arsenal a 1-0 win on aggregate against Spanish Giants Real Madrid in the first knockout round. An assist to Fàbregas and a goal knocked Juventus out of the quarter-finals. Arsenal met Barcelona in a star-studded final in Paris on May 17, 2006, pitting Henry against Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho, the player to whom Henry had lost the 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year award. The match started badly for Arsenal as goalkeeper Jens Lehmann fouled Samuel Eto'o and was subsequently sent off. Nevertheless, Arsenal took the lead through a Sol Campbell goal, however the British side eventually fell to the Catalans 2-1. Henry attracted harsh criticism for missing chances to secure the trophy for Arsenal, being denied twice by the Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Throughout the 2005-06 season Henry was linked with a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid; however he eventually decided to stay with Arsenal, declaring his loyalty and love for the club and accepting a four-year contract after the Champions League final. He reaffirmed this months later by saying "If an opportunity like Barcelona comes again, with all my respect for such a club, I will refuse" and that he will stay at Arsenal for life. He also said that it doesn't matter whether he has more money as long as Arsenal's ambitions as a club continue to grow.

Henry is currently third in the list of all-time English Premiership goal scorers, 91 goals behind Alan Shearer who is in first place, and 17 goals behind Andy Cole in second place.

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein claimed the club turned down two bids of £50 million "from Spanish clubs" for Thierry Henry before the signing of the new contract. If either of these bids had been accepted it would have made Henry the most expensive player in the world - breaking the previous transfer record of £47million paid by Spanish side Real Madrid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

Thierry Henry scored Arsenal's first ever goal in the Emirates Stadium on 22 July 2006, during Dennis Bergkamp's Testmonial. On 23 September 2006, Henry played a crucial role in creating the first two goals and then scoring one himself in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Sheffield United which gave them their first victory in the English Premiership at the Emirates Stadium. However, Thierry Henry has been facing problems with his form and has a neck injury and a hamsting problem that will keep him on the bench until New Year's Day.

International career

The Frenchman made his international debut in November 1997 against South Africa. Four months earlier, he played for the U-20 French national team in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship. He played in France's 1998 FIFA World Cup championship team, on which he was their top-scorer with three goals. Henry was scheduled to appear in the final — where France beat Brazil 3-0 — as a substitute, but a red card forced a defensive change instead. On Bastille Day 1998, he was awarded France's highest decoration, the Légion d'Honneur.

Henry was a member of the Euro 2000 championship squad, again scoring 3 goals and finishing as France's top scorer, including the equalizer against Portugal in the semi-final. France would later win the game in extra time thanks to a penalty kick by team captain Zinedine Zidane.

However, the 2002 FIFA World Cup featured a stunning early exit for both Henry and France as the reigning champions were eliminated in the group stage after failing to score a goal in any contest. After France lost their first match in group play, Henry was red carded for a sliding, studs-up challenge in their next match against Uruguay. France played to a 0-0 draw, but Henry was forced to miss the final match due to suspension which France lost 2-0 to Denmark.

The next year, Henry would return to form at the 2003 Confederations Cup. France, playing without team stalwarts Zidane and Vieira, won in large part to Henry's spectacular play for which he was named Man of the Match by FIFA's Technical Study Group in three of France's five matches. In the final, he scored the golden goal in extra time to lift the host country over Cameroon 1-0. Henry was awarded both the adidas Golden Ball as the outstanding player of the competition and the adidas Golden Shoe as the tournament's top goalscorer.

Henry also played in all of France's games in the Euro 2004 in which the team beat England in the group stages but lost to the eventual winners Greece 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

Henry was one of the automatic starters in the France squad at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He was played in the unfavoured lone striker role, but despite an indifferent start to the tournament, Henry became one of the top players of the World Cup. He scored three goals - including France's goal against returning champion and tournament favourite Brazil- and earned two fouls in two knockout-round games that led to decisive scores, although he was criticised by some commentators for faking a facial injury when winning a foul against Spain, although he later defended his actions, citing persistent fouling by Carles Puyol which was going unspotted by the referee, leading him to react in such a manner so as to gain the officials attention. France eventually lost to Italy on penalties 1-1 (5-3) in the final. Henry was one of 10 nominees for the Golden Ball award for Player of the Tournament, an award which was ultimately presented to his teammate, Zinedine Zidane.

Henry is France's second highest goalscorer of all time behind Michel Platini, with only 1 goal separating the gap.

Henry has received many plaudits and awards. He was runner-up for the 2003 and 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year award while helping Arsenal to an unbeaten record (26 wins, 12 draws) in the Premiership. He has also won the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year three times, the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice, and the French Player Of The Year on four occasions — an all-time record. In 2004–05, despite Arsenal being the runners-up in the Premiership, Henry emerged with the European Golden Boot for the second consecutive year (albeit sharing it with Villarreal's Diego Forlan in 2005). He is the first ever player to retain the award. Most recently he has not been shortlisted in the three finalists for 2006 which was shocking to many such as Arsène Wenger and his Arsenal teammate Cesc Fàbregas.

On May 27, 2005, Henry celebrated the birth of his first child, a daughter named Tea Henry. Henry is married to English model Nicole Merry. He lives with his family in Hampstead, North London.

[Ange]

Thierry in French jersey

[Ange]

Jan 2

Charlton 0:4 Arsenal

yay! the boys are back!

Henry scored today too!

Chelsea adrift while Henry scores on return

Arsenal captain Henry had been out of action since November 29 - a run of seven league games - because of a problem with his sciatic nerve.

But the France striker was soon back into the old routine, scoring from the penalty spot in the 30th minute after Charlton full-back Osei Sankofa was sent-off for pulling back Robin van Persie in front of an open goal.

Full-back Justin Hoyte added a second goal for the home side in first-half stoppage time before Dutch international van Persie put the result beyond doubt with two goals, the first from the penalty spot, inside the final 15 minutes.

The north London club's victory meant English football's 'big four' of United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal occupied all four Champions League qualifying places.

[Ange]

yay for thierry

[PinkVanilla.]

I used to have a obsesion with him like some years ago ...he`s kinda cute though

[Ange]

I used to have a obsesion with him like some years ago ...he`s kinda cute though

ahahaha! reallie? that's funny. i actually don't think he's that attractive but man oh man when he puts on that arsenal shirt...he's the best! & soo cute in it too lol

[PinkVanilla.]

I used to have a obsesion with him like some years ago ...he`s kinda cute though

ahahaha! reallie? that's funny. i actually don't think he's that attractive but man oh man when he puts on that arsenal shirt...he's the best! & soo cute in it too lol

I don't think hes that attractive either ... but he is cute !!!

[Hime]

I knew you are an Arsenal fan!!!

love him! thanks for the thread

[Ange]

I used to have a obsesion with him like some years ago ...he`s kinda cute though

ahahaha! reallie? that's funny. i actually don't think he's that attractive but man oh man when he puts on that arsenal shirt...he's the best! & soo cute in it too lol

I don't think hes that attractive either ... but he is cute !!!

cute indeeed

[Ange]

I knew you are an Arsenal fan!!!

love him! thanks for the thread

np.. i think everybody should at least be either a Real Madrid fan, Arsenal fan or like both!

[Ange]

random

[Ange]

Henry scored today!!!! yah.. damn right b.tches! a sublime strike

Blackburn 0:2 Arsenal

***Toure scored the first goal

[Nemeside]

he's great player, well maybe cute but i don't find him attractive

[Ange]

Yah. I completely agree. He's not hot and not my type, but I love the way he plays footy!

[Ange]

Arsenal 2:1 MAN U

[Ange]

Whole & full list of French team for this upcoming friendly against Argentina VIVE LE FRANCE!

Goal keepers

Grégory Coupet (Lyon), Mickaël Landreau (Nantes)

Defensive players

Eric Abidal (Lyon), François Clerc (Lyon), Julien Escudé (FC Séville), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Gaël Givet (Monaco), Philippe Méxès (AS Rome), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Sébastien Squillaci (Lyon), Lilian Thuram (FC Barcelone)

Middle players

Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Rio Mavuba (Bordeaux), Jérémy Toulalan (Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan)

Offensive players

Nicolas Anelka (Bolton Wanderers), Djibril Cissé (Marseille), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Florent Malouda (Lyon), Franck Ribéry (Marseille), David Trezeguet (Juventus Turin)

[Ange]

Middlesbrough 1:1 Arsenal

Yakubu `63 (pen)

Henry `77

[Ange]

One of the best pics of Henry in French colours

[Ange]

Old pics from when France was in Bosnia to play Euro qualifying matches 2008

[Goblinlaya]

He is so nice!! Moreover, he is not stupid at all... ^^