Thierry Henry

Thierry Daniel Henry (born August 17, 1977 in Les
Ulis, Paris, France) is a France|French football
(soccer)|football player. He currently plays as a
striker for English club Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal and
his native France national football team|France.

Henry is considered one of the most dynamic
offensive players in the game today. Many people
consider Henry to be the most exciting player to
watch in world football. Although he plays as a
striker, his versatility at all aspects of the
game makes him more influential than a traditional
striker, and he often drops deep to receive the
ball from midfield. Combining lightning-quick
speed with tremendous vision and creativity, he
creates nearly as many goals as he scores. Amongst
other things, Henry is well known for his
exceptional pace and accurate finishing which puts
him at, or near, the top of the Premiership top
scorers list each season.

==Biography==
Henry trained at the French Football Federation's
academy at Clairefontaine before starting his
professional career at AS Monaco. He was given his
debut by then Monaco manager Arsène Wenger at the
age of 17. At Monaco, Wenger put Henry on the wing
as a temporary measure because the line was
already led by Brazilian striker Sonny Anderson.

The Frenchman made his international debut in
October 1997 against South Africa national
football team|South Africa. He played in Les
Bleus' 1998 World Cup success, and was joint-top
scorer for France with three goals; he also was
part of the Euro 2000 winning squad, scoring a
further three goals.

Having impressed in the 1998 World Cup, Henry left
Monaco and moved to Italy|Italian giants Juventus
in January 1999 for £14 million. There, he was
made to play on the wing, and in an unfamiliar
position was strangled by Italian defensive
discipline, scoring just three goals while
starting only 12 games for the Bianconeri.

Unsettled in Italy, he transferred from Juventus
in August 1999 to Arsenal for £10.5 million,
reuniting with his former mentor, Wenger. At
Arsenal, Wenger converted Henry into a striker,
where he has flourished ever since. As of August
15th 2005, Henry is three goals short of Arsenal's
all time scoring record (currently held by Ian
Wright). Regarded by many as the best striker in
the history of Arsenal Football Club, Henry has
committed his future to the Gunners and hopes to
extend his stay in North London. He was runner up
for the 2003 FIFA World Player of the Year|2003
and 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year|2004 FIFA
World Player of the Year award while helping
Arsenal run the table in the Premiership.

Henry has been the star of television
advertisements for Nike, Inc.|Nike, Pro Evolution
Soccer,  and Renault (once with his
England|English model (person)|model girlfriend
Nicole Merry, whom he married in July 2003) and
will soon front adverts for Pepsi. On May 27th
2005, Henry celebrated the birth of his first
child, Tea Henry. Henry and his family live in
Hampstead, England.

On 16th July 2005, Henry was confirmed as the new
Arsenal captain, replacing as skipper the recently
departed Patrick Vieira.

==Career statistics==

All figures correct as of August 24, 2005