Reports: Bournemouth target CF Montreal's Thierry Henry for managerial vacancy

UPDATE (Feb. 21, 10:15 am ET): Thierry Henry is staying on as CF Montréal head coach with Bournemouth announcing caretaker Jonathan Woodgate continues in the role, appointed as short-term manager. Woodgate has guided the Cherries to a 3W-1L-1D record after taking over for the departed Jason Tindall with the club recording three consecutive clean sheets and reaching the FA Cup quarterfinals for the second time in club history.

"Jonathan’s professionalism and leadership has impressed the board of directors since taking on the role of caretaker manager in difficult circumstances," Bournemouth chief executive, Neill Blake said in a statement. "The team’s performances and results have improved under his stewardship, and even our defeat at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday was a display which deserved a better result. As we head into a crucial part of the season, stability and clarity is of paramount importance for everyone at the club. With that in mind, and having concluded an extensive search for a new manager, we believe Jonathan is the best candidate to lead the team for the final 15 games of the season.”

UPDATE (Feb. 19th, 1:20 pm ET): The reports linking Thierry Henry to Bournemouth are heating up.

According to BBC's Kris Temple as well as The Athletic, Bournemouth have officially reached out to CF Montréal to ask for permission to speak with Henry. 

Bournemouth currently sit sixth in the Championship. Players begin reporting for preseason on March 1 for Montréal. 

ORIGINAL (Feb. 17th, 5:30 pm ET): After one season as a manager in MLS with CF Montréal, Thierry Henry could be moving on.

According to widespread reports that first emerged in England, Henry has been targeted for the managerial vacancy at Championship side Bournemouth. MLS insider Kristian Jack, The Athletic's Sam Stejskal and ESPN's Taylor Twellman have all suggested that there is strong interest there but no deal is yet done. 

Henry inherited a Montréal squad that missed the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in 2019 then sold their best player before the season, Ignacio Piatti, as well as another Designated Player during the season in Saphir Taider. He ultimately guided the squad to the playoffs, losing in heartbreaking fashion to the New England Revolution in the Play-In round. 

Bournemouth had spent five years in the Premier League before being relegated last season. They were among the favorites for promotion, though have faltered of late. They still sit in sixth place, which would earn them a berth in the promotion playoffs where four clubs battle for the final promotion place. 

Henry would be the latest MLSer to head to the Championship, following late-winter moves of Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders to Swansea City), Paul Arriola (D.C. United to Swansea) and Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC to Barnsley). 

After one of the most decorated careers in the history of professional soccer, including four-and-a-half seasons in MLS with the New York Red Bulls, Henry began his coaching career in the academy of English club Arsenal in February 2015. In August of 2016, Henry became assistant coach of the Belgian national team alongside Roberto Martinez and he helped the Red Devils advance to the semifinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, eventually finishing third after defeating England in the third-place match.

In October 2018 he got his first opportunity as a head coach of a club team, replacing Leonardo Jardim at Ligue 1 club Monaco, where he started his professional career as a player. After an unsuccessful three-month spell, he was let go after 20 matches. 

Henry replaced Remi Garde in Montreal ahead of the 2020 MLS season.