Thierry Henry, a gift for excellence
Along with David Trezeguet and Kylian Mbappé, he is one of three players trained at AS Monaco to have become world champions with France. Spotted at INF Clairefontaine where he started his training in 1990 at the age of 13, Thierry Henry joined the Rouge et Blanc three years later. He then finished his training at the Principality club’s training center, when his future attacking partner with Les Bleus was just unpacking his bags at the foot of the Rock.
🔙 Quand Thierry Henry inscrivait son premier but en @Ligue1UberEat face à Lens 💥
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 👋 @PVSportFR pic.twitter.com/iQjV38YuYW
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 21, 2021
French Champion in 1997 with Jean Tigana
Earlier, the kid from Ulis had made his first appearance in Rouge et Blanc during the 1994-1995 season (8 games, 3 goals, 1 assist). A regular the following season, he would then become one of the major players in helping the team become champion of France 1997 under the direction of Jean Tigana. His dazzling progress alongside Sonny Anderson, who would soon leave for FC Barcelona, made him a real power, and he became a French international in October of the same year.
After having played in the U20 World Cup with France, he would win his first cap under Aimé Jacquet – shortly before David Trezeguet -, whose mission was to prepare the French team for “their” World Cup. The manager did not hesitate to place his trust in the two Monegasque talents, at all of twenty years old, to play them in attack. We know the rest of the story. Thierry Henry scored his first goal for the Blues against South Africa, and would score three goals in six games in the competition.
An incredible run with Les Bleus
David Trezeguet was a little less used, but nevertheless distinguished himself against Saudi Arabia in the group stage, against whom he scored a goal with a header, the second in a long run in Bleu (71 caps, 34 goals). We obviously remember the golden goal scored against Italy, in the Euro 2000 final. It was a half-volley with his left foot, which allowed Thierry and David to lift a second major trophy together, two years after their win against Brazil.
Meanwhile, Thierry Henry was flying in Italy with Juventus, after five seasons of high-level play at AS Monaco. His time in the Principality saw him win more than 150 games (31 goals, 38 assists), a league title in 1997, and also take part in two European runs, including in the UEFA Cup, where the Rouge et Blanc would reach the semi-finals 1997. In the Champions League the following season, Monaco would only fall to Juventus in the semifinals, having achieved a big win in the previous round against Manchester United.
An incredible career for club and country
Thierry Henry therefore came of age with La Diagonale on his shoulders, became a professional, and was then selected for France team, thanks to his performances with the Principality club. It’s a spell which allowed his career to take off, becoming a legend for France, for whom he is still the top scorer (123 caps, 51 goals), and of Arsenal (370 games, 228 goals).
1998 World Champion, winner of Euro 2000, champion of France, England and Spain, he even ended up winning the Champions League in 2009 with Barcelona, a year before taking his talent to the United States and the New York Red Bulls. With more than 900 games and 400 career goals, Thierry Henry remains to this day one of the greatest players in the history of French football. Since 2021, he has distinguished himself as a consultant on Prime Video broadcasts.
The club wishes him a happy birthday, as he celebrates his 45th birthday today.
