After a Disastrous World Cup Loss, France Appoints Soccer Legend to Chase Paris Olympics Gold

A lot has been going on with France’s football team in the past few months. Not many days have passed since they fell short of defending their World Cup title against Argentina despite the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe. Things are not going great for France’s Under-21 soccer team either in recent months, as they had to face an early exit from the European Under-21s this year. As a result, their team management had to take some strict steps to bring the team back on track and get it back to its winning ways months before the commencement of the Olympics.

According to the French Football Federation, they have appointed a new head coach ahead of the 2014 Paris Olympics. This new head coach is none other than their former star striker and World Cup winner, Thierry Henry. With him, they are looking to change the fate of their under-21 football team, as he will also bring his staunch experience onboard.

A ray of hope for France ahead of the Olympics

As per the reports from France 24, Henry will be replacing Sylvain Ripoll, who was sacked after the team’s early exit from the European Under-21s. The news of his appointment was confirmed by the French Football Federation on Monday. With Henry as the new head coach, France is eyeing the upcoming Olympics that will be hosted by their capital city. He will be in charge of the team until 2025 and will be joined by some other names in the coming days. Gerald Baticle, a former Angers manager, will be joining Henry’s coaching staff as an assistant coach.

This former Arsenal star and France’s second-all-time scorer is set to resume his managerial career. He left his position as Belgium’s assistant coach after the World Cup last year. In his most recent venture, this 46-year-old legend was working with a TV broadcaster. His addition surely raises France’s hopes of revitalizing their team in the Olympics, considering he’s one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history and renowned for nurturing young football talent. Bringing a wealth of coaching experience, he’s stepping in with a background of mentoring some of the most prominent teams in the past.

France appoints a staunch coach

Henry was the manager of Monaco in 2018–19 and stepped down at MLS club Montreal Impact in February 2021, having led the team for slightly over a year. He has also worked closely with his former team, Arsenal, to nurture their young prodigies. He has been on Belgium’s coaching staff and was a part of the team that finished third in the 2018 World Cup. His first game as an Under-21 manager for France will be a friendly match on September 7th against Denmark. Four days after this match, they will be playing against Slovenia in their first Euro 2025 qualifier.

Read More: French Football Legend Snubs Thierry Henry, Picks Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe

Amidst France’s recent football challenges, Thierry Henry’s appointment as the Under-21 coach brings a beacon of hope. A legendary figure with a rich coaching background, Henry’s return to the helm is a chance for the team’s resurgence, injecting optimism ahead of the Paris Olympics and fostering young talent for the future.

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