Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry, pictured in 2014
Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry, pictured in 2014

Arsene Wenger: Former Arsenal boss says Thierry Henry can bounce back from Monaco flop


Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has suggested Thierry Henry has the "quality" to put a miserable three-month spell in charge of Monaco behind him.

Henry and Patrick Vieira - two of Wenger's former players at Arsenal - have had contrasting introductions to European management.

While Henry lasted just three months at Monaco before being replaced recently by his predecessor Leonardo Jardim at the Stade Louis II in January, Vieira has steered Nice to seventh in Ligue 1.

Speaking ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards in the principality on Monday, Wenger said: "Both have the qualities to be outstanding managers.

"If you arrive in October, and the team is in a very bad position, you have three months. Because in January everybody starts to become nervous that things could go very badly.

"You have less time when you arrive in the middle of the season. That is what happened to Thierry.

"How he bounces back will be very important. I think he has the quality and desire to make a career, and a career is judged on the longer period.

"I started my job at 33 years of age, I had very promising people around me, and many of them disappeared while some survived. Why? You need luck and (to) work hard. It's always very difficult to predict a career of a manager.

"It depends on the quality of the players and the confidence we get.

"But both have the qualities and I wish they make it a great career.

"It's very good for me to see that players I had continue to share our game with people and develop young players."

Wenger has been out of work since leaving Arsenal at the end of last season and hinted in October that he would be back in management by the start of this year.

But he said on Sunday: "My future is unknown - even for me. I enjoy daily life now."


Arsene Wenger specials (via Sky Bet)

Arsene Wenger: Feeling 'well rested' after leaving Arsenal in May
Arsene Wenger: Enjoying 'daily life' after leaving Arsenal
  • No Club or Country by 1st August 2019 - 2/1
  • Bayern Munich - 4/1
  • AC Milan - 7/1
  • Monaco - 8/1
  • Qatar national team - 8/1

Click here to see the list in full


Odds correct as of 1430 GMT on 17/02/19

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