A head coach’s days are usually numbered when the going gets tough, though Thierry Henry’s former AS Monaco player feels the plug was pulled prematurely during the 2018-19 campaign.
Henry, now the Montreal Impact’s head coach, lasted just 20 games in charge of the Ligue 1 side and amassed a 5-11-4 record where his professional career began. But the story isn’t that simple, according to now-Sevilla midfielder Rony Lopes.
"I think people don't really know what happened with Thierry,” Lopes told The Athletic. “In my opinion, the club did not give him enough time. The training sessions were really good and the ideas were bright, engaging and good.
"When he had the players back fit, and the team starting to be how he wanted, the club sacked him. I did not agree with that. If they had given him more time, he could have been a fantastic coach for Monaco.”
Through that perspective, what’s Monaco’s loss could end up being Montreal’s gain. Henry, who was hired last November to steer the Impact, has already enjoyed some bright moments, as well.
The Impact beat Saprissa in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16, and Montreal were 1-0-1 before the 2020 MLS season was suspended on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. His global connections resulted in a transfer market splash, too, with midfielder Victor Wanyama joining as a Designated Player from Tottenham Hotspur. Montreal also often used a five-man backline, especially in CCL games, as Henry looks to prove his worth on the touchline.
While the final verdict is out on the legendary striker, Henry’s time in Montreal could relegate his Monaco stint to simply a gloomy chapter.
