Thierry Henry has generously handed plaudits to former Gunners coach Arsene Wenger and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola for helping shape his managerial career.
The 46-year-old former ace striker saw his his tenure as France Under 21 head coach launch off to an encouraging winning start on Friday evening when his side triumphed 4-1 against Denmark, with young striker Elhye Wahi netting twice.
Henry is in the midst of trying to give his coaching career another chance after enduring mixed fortunes helming Ligue 1 outfit Monaco and Canadian side Montreal. He decided to give it another go and make the plunge with the national team set-up after admitting he had been left largely ‘unfulfilled’ doing his television punditry duties and is now looking for a revival in the dugout.
Henry was under the tutelage of Gunners legend, Wenger, during his time in North London before finally having the opportuity to play under Guardiola when the Spaniard led the Blaugranas into a new era of success at Barcelona in their early glory years.
The French national indubitably cemented his status as one of football’s most highly lauded strikers during his playing days and revealed that Wenger and Guardiola pair had moulded his tactical decision-making.
“Being a manager is about asking the question: can you make your players more intelligent, understand football a bit better?,” Henry told Telefoot.
“Let’s use Pep Guardiola as an example. I thought I was good at football but when I arrived there at Barcelona I just thought, ‘Wow, what is he talking about?’
“Arsene Wenger, when I arrived to Arsenal, opened up my spirit and my mind as a continuation of what I learned at the academy at Clairefontaine. Pep Guardiola opened my eyes.
“It was him that made me understand that pressing was good. As an attacker in general, and you know this week, that you don’t normally want to do these things,” he said.
“But then I developed a taste for pressing high and appreciate another area of the game,” he added.
Henry’s tenure with the Blaugranas saw him score 49 goals during a three-year stay at the Nou Camp before doint his stint for American MLS side New York Red Bulls.