Thierry Henry Retires From International Football
World Cup and European champion, Thierry Henry has officially called a close to his international career, while restarting his club career in the United States with the New York Red Bulls.
The thirty two year old player had made a total of a hundred and twenty three appearances for the French national team and managed to score a record breaking fifty one goals. He played his final match as a substitute in the 2010 World Cup that took place in South Africa.
Henry admitted that he had contemplated his retirement before the start of the World Cup but felt it would have been highly inappropriate to announce his plans before the World Cup took place.
Henry also said that even though he was playing half way around the world for another four and a half season, he had still considered the possibility of participating in the national team. However he said he wished to be available for the national team manager, he was willing to train when he was needed to and take a day off when he was asked to, but the constant going back and forth would have eventually gotten to him and affected his performances on the pitch.
His career came to an end amidst a disrupted French squad. This will still not prevent the fans from remembering him as one the most accomplished and prolific strikers in the world of football who has performed equally as good on the club and international levels.
Henry made his first big break at the age of thirteen when he was signed by Monaco at the age of thirteen in 1991, he made his first team debut at the age of sixteen. He even helped steer Monaco to winning the French championship in 1997.
His performances earned him a spot in the International team and he featured in the World Cup winning 1998 French squad.
Henry spent the next eight seasons of his career at Arsenal, where he won two Premier League titles and three FA cups while becoming the highest scoring player for Arsenal.
Henry also won a series of personal awards during his career, including winning the Football Writers Player of the Year on three separate occasions. Henry left Arsenal in 2007 to join Spanish giants Barcelona, he won the Spanish, European and World Club titles with them and became part of the first team in the history of football to lift six trophies in a year.
Henry also won the European championship with France in 2000. He as well as the rest of the French squad had a disappointing World Cup in 2002, which saw them exit in the group stages. He was part of the French team in 2006 that finished in second place at the tournament.
Henry almost retired after the double hand ball controversy against the Irish, which saw France qualify over the Irish. He admitted to have almost quit football in the aftermath but said he wanted to be available for the team and fans.
He ended by saying, “South Africa did not play a part in my decision,I could have announced it before the World Cup but I didn't want it (to affect) the team. It was time for me.”
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