Gilles Grimandi Backs Thierry Henry to Stay in Football Media
Thierry Henry is unlikely to return to full-time management, with former Arsenal team-mate Gilles Grimandi believing the club legend is better suited to his current life in football media.
Henry remains Arsenal’s record scorer with 228 goals and retains deep links to the club, but there has been no indication that he is being considered for Mikel Arteta’s staff at Emirates Stadium.
Quick facts
- Henry scored 228 goals for Arsenal and won two Premier League titles.
- He was part of Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003-04 league-winning side.
- His Monaco managerial spell lasted 20 matches in 2018-19.
- Henry managed Montreal Impact for 29 games.
- He guided France’s Under-21 side to Olympic silver on home soil in 2024.
- Arsenal drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich in the Champions League and host Everton on Saturday.
Grimandi said Henry’s vast football knowledge and constant viewing of matches could still tempt him towards the dugout. But he feels the demands and insecurity surrounding modern management make a comeback improbable.
“He watches a huge number of games and has fantastic football knowledge,” Grimandi said. “Maybe sometimes he thinks he should give it another try, but then he sees what the job involves and decides the life he has now is better.”
Grimandi pointed to the total commitment required from coaches, who can sacrifice their private lives without any guarantee of results, job security or time to build a long-term project. He cited Luis Enrique as one of the rare examples of a manager enjoying the best side of the profession.
Henry began his coaching career at Monaco, the club where his playing rise started, but left after only three months and 20 matches in charge. He then had a short spell leading Montreal Impact during the Covid period, overseeing 29 fixtures.
His most successful work on the touchline came with France Under-21s at the 2024 Olympics, where the hosts collected silver medals. Henry has also worked twice as an assistant coach with Belgium’s national team.
Could Arsenal offer a specialist role?
Grimandi said it would be “fantastic” if Henry could contribute at Arsenal, but questioned whether a former player of his stature would want an academy position or a reduced coaching role.
He suggested that Henry could be valuable as a part-time striker coach rather than returning to the daily pressure of a senior managerial post. “It would be a good idea if he could be involved, not full-time, just as a striker coach,” Grimandi said, while adding that he does not know whether Henry would want such a job.
The question arrives as Arsenal continue to search for greater cutting edge despite winning the Premier League last season. Kai Havertz has regularly operated as a false nine, while Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres has yet to establish himself as the convincing answer at centre-forward.
Arsenal showed resilience in their latest match, holding Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich to a 2-2 Champions League draw at the Allianz Arena. Arteta’s side return to Premier League duty on Saturday, when Everton visit north London.
