Thierry Henry: Ex-Arsenal striker named manager of MLS side Montreal Impact
Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has been named as the new manager of MLS side Montreal Impact.
The Frenchman has been without a job since the end of his failed stint at Monaco in January, where he won just four (20%) of his 20 games in charge across all competitions.
What awaits Henry with the Impact? Five things to know…
- Henry has signed a two-year deal with the Impact with an option of a third.
- The Canadian side finished ninth in the Eastern Conference in 2019, missing out on the playoffs.
- But they did win the Canadian Championship, qualifying them for the Concacaf Champions League.
- Montreal conceded the fourth-highest number of goals (60) throughout MLS last season.
- Henry says it’s an “honour” to return to MLS and manage the Impact.
The Impact parted company with former Aston Villa boss Remi Garde during the 2019 season – during which they once again failed to make the playoffs – and replaced him with Wilmer Cabrera on an interim basis.
“We are very pleased to announce the appointment of this soccer legend,” said Montreal Impact President and CEO Kevin Gilmore.
“Henry will bring a new dynamism to our club. He shares our vision of wanting to elevate this organization by helping us achieve our goals in the field, but also outside. He is a competitor and a leader who has distinguished himself at the highest level throughout his career. He brings his skills with him to Montreal, a place he wants to be.”
Thierry Henry scored more goal against Montreal Impact (9) than he did against any other side in the MLS.
From haunting them to managing them… pic.twitter.com/fRKl29nipU
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 14, 2019
Impact Sports Director Olivier Renard added: “We are very happy to have Thierry join us. Young and dynamic, he is very familiar with MLS and meets the criteria we set.
“This appointment, two months before the resumption in January, will allow us to have the time to build the team with the one who will pilot it. “
Henry spent four-and-a-half seasons in MLS at the end of his playing career, scoring 52 goals in 135 appearances for the New York Red Bulls, helping them to 2013 Supporters’ Shield.
The 42-year-old scored nine goals against the Impact during that time – more than any other opponent. His first task will be to tighten up a defence which conceded the fourth-highest number of goals (60) throughout MLS last season.
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And the former France international revealed he’d “always had his eye on the club” and is “honoured” to finally take the reins.
“It’s an honour to become head coach of the Montreal Impact and return to MLS,” he said. “It’s a league that I know well where I had a great time. Being in Quebec, in Montreal, which has a huge multicultural heritage, is something extraordinary. I have always had an eye on this club and now I am there.”
Henry has signed a two-year deal with Montreal with the club holding an option to extend that into the 2022 season.
