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Former Arsenal midfielder, Ray Parlour has tipped Thierry Henry to become the manager of Arsenal Football Club.
Parlour knows his former Gunners team-mate well and believes he has the charisma and knowledge required to be a successful boss. The two played alongside each other at Arsenal's old home stadium, Highbury between 1999 and 2004.
Parlour was also in the ‘invincibles’ side alongside Henry that swept the Premier League aside in 2003-04.
He said, “I think Thierry Henry will definitely get involved with Arsenal. I certainly believe, one day, if he really wants to be a manager, he will be manager of Arsenal.”
The Englishman was full of praise for the Frenchman and brushed upon old memories to reminisce when alongside manager Arsene Wenger, Thierry Henry would give out pointers to the team. He said, “He was such an intelligent player. Arsene Wenger used to have a meeting on a Monday with the players after a game and Thierry would always have his say.
"He would make some great points, not just about forwards, but about defending and how we defend as a team.
“He always had that charisma to be a manager. And look at his name around the world. People would want to play for him and he would attract big players.”
The iconic striker, who recently said that he won’t be playing for New York Red Bulls anymore, sparked rumours of a return to Arsenal when he said that he would like to return to the London-based club and that it is his dream to see Arsenal win the Champions League.
Thierry Henry, who has been immortalized at the Emirates stadium with a bronze statue, scored 228 goals in 376 appearances for the Gunners. He had two stints as a player at Arsenal; one from 1999 to 2007 and the second in 2012, when he made a short return through a two-month-loan deal from New York Red Bulls.
Henry will certainly come back here: Wenger
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, believes that Henry will end up coming to Arsenal sometime in the future. He reiterated Parlour’s words by calling him an intelligent and committed man.
He said, “Henry is an Arsenal man. The best moments of his life and certainly his career have been experienced here and certainly one day he will come back here.
"In what kind of role I don't know, that's what he has to think about – what kind of direction he wants.
“He has all the qualities because he is intelligent, committed and loves the game. He has to think 'do I want to sacrifice all the rest of my life to being involved in that job’.”
Wenger gave Thierry Henry his debut at Monaco twenty years ago and knows him in and out.
“Thierry has come out and said he wants to reflect on how he wants to go into his next life,” said Wenger
“I gave him his start at the age of 17 in Monaco, he is now 37, so he had 20 years of competitive football and that deserves huge respect and congratulation, not only for what he has achieved but for his exemplary attitude and focus on football.”
Arsenal fans want a change of manager at the club
Arsenal fans have grown disillusioned lately under the stewardship of Arsene Wenger and have gone public with their thoughts on Wenger by displaying banners that read, ‘Arsene, thanks for the memories, but, it is time to say goodbye.’
That is not the only instance when the fans have shown their displeasure at Arsene Wenger and boos have been heard at the end of matches whenever Arsenal have failed to win.
Arsene Wenger guided Arsenal to the FA Cup six months ago after a barren spell of 9 years. However, some of the Arsenal faithful believe that it is time for Wenger to leave the club.
With Parlour and Wenger singing Henry’s praises, it may not be totally preposterous to suggest that Thierry Henry will eventually replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. It is definitely a move that will be welcomed with open arms by Arsenal fans. However, that is a question that will be answered in due course.
