Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry has announced his retirement from football after a trophy-laden 20-year career to take up a media role.
The 1998 World Cup winner, 37, left New York Red Bulls this month but there was speculation he might choose to play on at another club.
“It has been an incredible journey,” he said.
Henry is joining Sky Sports after being a World Cup pundit for the BBC.
The Frenchman, who also played for Juventus, Barcelona and Monaco, scored 175 Premier League goals and is fourth on the list of all-time scorers.
Henry won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners, where he played between 1999 and 2007.
He added the Champions League trophy with Barcelona in 2009 and returned to Arsenal for four matches on loan from the Red Bulls in 2012, coming on as a substitute to score the winner against Leeds in the third round of the FA Cup.
Henry has been confirmed as a pundit for Sky Sports (Photo by Sky Sports)
When asked if he had considered another stint at the Emirates, he told Sky Sports: “You kind of never leave Arsenal. How many comebacks do you make? At one point it will turn out to be a bad move. We all love the first Rocky but I’m not too sure about the last one.”
Henry made his Monaco debut in 1994 and he helped the club to the French Ligue 1 title in 1997.
“I would like to thank all the fans, team-mates and individuals involved with AS Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona, the New York Red Bulls and of course the French national team that have made my time in the game so special,” he said.
“I have had some amazing memories (mostly good!) and a wonderful experience.
“I hope you have enjoyed watching as much as I have enjoyed taking part.
“See you on the other side..”
THIERRY HENRY FACTFILE
1977: Born August 17 in Paris.
1990: Joins French first division side Monaco as a 13-year-old.
1994: Makes top-flight debut against Nice on August 31, aged 17.
1996: December – Signs pre-contract with Real Madrid, who approach player through agent not registered with FIFA. The world body fines both player and Spanish club and annul agreement.
1997: May – Monaco win Ligue 1 title, with Henry having scored nine goals in 36 matches.
October 11 – Wins first French cap in friendly against South Africa in Lens.
1998: Plays for France in World Cup finals, scoring three goals in six matches, but remains on bench in 3-0 victory over Brazil in July 12 final.
1999: January 18 – Signs for Italian giants Juventus.
August 3 – Signs for Arsenal for £10.5million.
September 9 – Nets first goal for Gunners after coming on as substitute in victory at Southampton.
2000: June – Scores three times in five games in French Euro 2000 success, including the opener in semi-final clash with Portugal.
2002: June 6 – Sent off for a late tackle against Uruguay during France’s disappointing World Cup defence.
2003: April 27 – Named PFA Player of the Year.
2004: April 16 – Scores four against Leeds in the Premier League, taking him to 150 goals for Arsenal.
April 25 – Named PFA Player of the Year for second year in a row on the day Arsenal clinch title with 2-2 draw at Tottenham.
2005: October 18 – Equals Ian Wright’s Arsenal record of 185 goals in a Champions League game against Sparta Prague, then scores a second to break the mark.
2006: May – Signs four-year deal following speculation linking him with Barcelona.
July – Ends the World Cup with three goals, with France losing the final to Italy on penalties.
2007: Feb 3 – Scores 226th and final goal for Gunners in a league draw against Middlesbrough.
June 25 – Signs for Barcelona for £16.1million.
September 19 – Scores his first goal for his new club in a 3-0 Champions League win over Lyon.
2009: May – Wins league, cup and Champions League treble with Barca.
November 18 – Earns widespread condemnation when he uses his hand in the build-up to crucial goal for France in their World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland. The goal books France’s place in South Africa.
2010: January 18 – FIFA announces it will take no disciplinary action against Henry over handball.
June 20 – Part of the France squad which refuses to train after Nicolas Anelka was sent home following a bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech during a poor World Cup in South Africa.
July 14 – Joins MLS side New York Red Bulls on a “multi-year” contract.
July 15 – Confirms retirement from French national team, having scored 51 goals in 123 appearances.
August 28 – Scores first MLS goal in a 2-0 victory over San Jose Earthquakes.
2011: January 11 – Arsenal confirm Henry is training at the club during the MLS off-season but no agreement to sign the player is reached.
November 17 – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirms Henry is back training with the club.
December 10 – Arsenal unveil a bronze statue of Henry outside the Emirates Stadium as part of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations.
December 30 – Wenger confirms Henry will sign a two-month deal if an insurance agreement can be reached.
January 6, 2012 – After training with Arsenal during MLS off-season, Henry re-signs for Gunners on a two-month loan deal. Makes his second Arsenal debut as a substitute against Leeds in FA Cup third round and scores the only goal of the tie. Scores the winning goal in stoppage time in a 2-1 win over Sunderland in his final league match on loan.
February 17 – Returns to New York Red Bulls to prepare for the new season and goes on to help them become champions of the regular season – the club’s first major trophy in their 17-year history.
December 1, 2014 – Leaves New York Red Bulls after four and a half years at the club.
December 16 – Announces retirement from football after glittering career and a new role as a pundit with Sky Sports.
Reference: Dailymail.co.uk/sport
