Thierry Henry‘s way of finding happiness in soccer can differ from the rest. During his yesteryears with Arsenal, Henry became the all-time leading goal scorer, and many admired his spectacular victories. Nonetheless, his latest comments on his mindset while playing were quite astonishing, as he confessed that scoring goals became secondary to what actually made him satisfied the most!
The Frenchman rose to the position of a soccer icon after winning the prestigious Golden Boot Award four times, which is more than any other player. He was awarded for exceptional performances in the 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, and 2005–06 seasons. Yet, what made him happy? Let’s find out!
What made Thierry Henry content?
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Notably, Thierry Henry opened up about his soccer journey on the podcast ‘The Diary of a CEO’. During the chat, British entrepreneur Steven Bartlett asked what makes the Frenchman pleased. To this, he replied, “I don’t know. I never asked myself that question. I couldn’t care less, I just couldn’t care less…You saw my face was always hard, was always, you know, I could not smile.“
As the conversation progressed, he added, “People never used to see when I used to give an assist. I always used to smile. Please watch, assist- smile, goal-rage… pleasing again giving.” He revealed that people from his country complain about his lack of celebration of his goals. According to Henry, it’s hard to blame the people, as on the pitch he always presented himself stoically.
Thierry Henry believes this nature comes from his obsession with pleasing his father. He spent his professional career solely to please his father, not himself. Moreover, the interview with the Arsenal legend was an eye-opener for many as he candidly spoke about his depression and childhood trauma.
The Arsenal legend’s battle with childhood trauma
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The 46-year-old stunned the fans when he revealed that he battled depression while achieving greatness in his career. Even after earning the 1998 World Cup and four Golden Boot Awards, the Frenchman believed that he was not exemplary. This self-deprecating mentality sprouted in Thierry Henry’s head after his father constantly criticized his soccer prowess during his childhood.
READ MORE: Thierry Henry Reveals Real Reason Behind Quitting MLS Side CF Montreal
The trauma of being scrutinized by his dad stayed with Thierry Henry for years, and it reached its peak during the COVID-19 lockdown. During the lockdown, he was isolated in Montreal and cried every day. Consequently, the soccer legend has now decided to give priority to his mental health over other commitments. What do you think about Thierry Henry’s revelation? Let us know in the comments below.
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