Thierry Henry is calling it quits. The Frenchman has retired after a 20-year career that took him from Monaco, to Juventus, to Arsenal, to Barcelona and finally, to the New York Red Bulls as he established himself as one of the best players of his generation.
Thierry Henry retires, ending amazing 20-year career
Thierry Henry walks away as an Arsenal legend and one of the best players of his generation.
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Many expected Henry to retire after he announced that he would not be returning to the Red Bulls after the 2014 MLS season. It seemed like an appropriate time for the 37-year-old to step away, but he refused to confirm his plans and there was speculation that he may look to play with Arsenal through the summer and finish his career with the Gunners. Now we know that will not happen.
Henry began his career at Monaco, where he played for Arsene Wenger and became one of Europe’s top young talents. He then moved onto Juventus, but things didn’t go as well there and when he joined Arsenal, he wasn’t expected to be a superstar, but that’s exactly what he became. He scored 226 goals in 369 matches for the Gunners and won the league twice, including starring for the famous Invincibles team that finished the Premier League campaign unbeaten.
With his legacy at Arsenal and in the Premier League secure, Henry moved to Barcelona, where he wasn’t the same dominant player he was with the Gunners, but he was still pretty damn good. His best year at the Camp Nou came in 2008-09, when he scored 26 goals to help the Blaugrana win the treble, highlighted by Henry’s fist Champions League title.
Finally, Henry went to the Red Bulls. Some thought he would treat it as a retirement league, but he did no such thing. In the four and a half years he spent in New York, Henry was arguably the league’s best player. He compensated for his age and diminishing pace with skill, moving out to the left wing, cutting in and acting as the team’s playmaker. He also made history, winning the first trophy in club history when he captured the Supporters’ Shield in 2013.
In addition to his slew of honors at the club level, Henry was also a fixture with France. He totaled 123 caps and was Les Bleus' leading scorer when they won the 1998 World Cup on home soul. He was the team's leading scorer two years later when France won Euro 2000 as well. By the time his international career ended in 2010, he had scored 51 goals for his country, captured two winners medals and played in three finals.
Now Henry will move to Sky Sports, where he will be a pundit. His playing career is over, but he will still stick around the sport and he has even hinted at coaching at some point in the future. In the meantime, he’ll settle for having a statue outside the Emirates and being one of the best of his era.
