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Thierry Henry has resigned from his position as coach of the France under-21 football team, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed on Monday.
The announcement comes just weeks after Henry led the French under-23 team to a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The former Arsenal striker, who took charge of the French youth side last summer, had been contracted until June 2025. However, the FFF stated that Henry, 47, chose to step down for “personal reasons.”
Henry’s tenure culminated in France’s first appearance in an Olympic men’s football final since 1984, though his team ultimately fell 5-3 to Spain after extra time.
The silver-medal finish was a significant achievement, especially considering the challenges Henry faced, including having to adjust his squad at the last minute due to some clubs refusing to release their players for the Games.
In a statement released by the FFF, Henry expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead the team. “Winning an Olympic silver medal for my country will remain one of the proudest moments of my life. I’m incredibly grateful to the federation, the players, the staff, and the fans for giving me this magical experience,” he said.
Philippe Diallo, the president of the FFF, praised Henry’s contributions, saying, “We obviously regret this decision, as Thierry Henry was able to achieve the objectives set for him by winning a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Having followed him throughout this campaign, I witnessed first-hand his great professionalism, his rigour, and his love for the blue jersey.”
The FFF now faces the task of finding a successor to continue the progress made under Henry’s leadership.
