Thierry Henry, the former French football star, has unexpectedly resigned as coach of the French U21/U23 national team, citing personal reasons. This decision comes just days after leading the team to a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they lost 5-3 to Spain in a thrilling final at the Parc des Princes.Henry, who took over the role just over a year ago, expressed his gratitude to the French Football Federation (FFF) and its president, Philippe Diallo, in a statement: ‘I want to thank the FFF and President Philippe Diallo for giving me this incredible opportunity. Winning the silver medal at the Olympics for my country will remain one of the greatest prides of my life’.The FFF, while regretting Henry’s departure, acknowledged his achievements. Philippe Diallo stated, ‘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’.During his tenure, Henry achieved an impressive record of nine wins in 12 games, including the Olympic silver medal. His contract was originally set to expire in June 2025, but he chose to step down early.The FFF will now begin the process of appointing a new coach, with the aim of having someone in place before the upcoming Euro 2025 qualification matches in September. This sudden change in leadership comes at a crucial time for the French youth team, as they look to build on their recent Olympic success.
Key points
- Thierry Henry has resigned as coach of the French U21/U23 national team, citing personal reasons.
- Henry led the team to a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, losing 5-3 to Spain in the final.
- The French Football Federation (FFF) regrets Henry’s decision but acknowledges his achievements.
- A new coach will be appointed before the Euro 2025 qualification matches in September.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in reporting whether Henry coached the U21 or U23 team, with some sources referring to it as U21 and others as U23.
