Thierry Henry leaves his position as coach of the French Espoirs team – Libération

The former world champion made this decision “for reasons that are personal to him,” the French Football Federation said on Monday, August 19. His contract ran until June 2025.

His team reached the final at the Paris Olympics, a first for France since winning gold in 1984. But Thierry Henry is going to hang up his boots. The coach of the French Espoirs team (selection of footballers under 23 years old), has decided to leave his post, announced the French Football Federation (FFF) on Monday, August 19. The former 1998 world champion made this decision “for reasons that are personal to him”, specifies the FFF. He had been appointed last summer, until June 2025.

“Winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games for my country will remain one of the proudest moments of my life. I am incredibly grateful to the federation, the players, the staff and the fans who allowed me to live a magical experience,” Thierry Henry said in the press release. The former footballer had a great campaign, leading his team to the Olympic final despite the defection of a good number of players who could have joined the team and the refusal of their clubs to release them – the Games are not part of the Fifa calendar.

Philippe Diallo, president of the Federation, for his part wanted to thank the now ex-coach. “We obviously regret this decision because Thierry Henry was able to achieve the objectives that had been set for him by winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, 40 years after the Olympic medal in Los Angeles. Having followed him throughout this campaign, I was able to discover his great professionalism, his rigor and his love of the blue jersey.”

The FFF will now have to find a replacement for Henry at the head of the Espoirs. And quickly: the Bleuets must play two qualifying matches for Euro-2025 in September, against Slovenia and Bosnia.