Thierry Henry coach of Hopes: the TV sets lose a golden consultant

It was his on-air signature. A grimace on either side of the corners of the lips. His own way of hiding a joke, an embarrassment, or rather of pretending to hide it. This Sunday evening, Thierry Henry carried out his “special” one last time on the lawn of the Bollaert stadium while the host Thibault Le Rol offered to comment on his potential arrival with the Espoirs. “Ad, ad, you have to send the ad”, then chained “Titi” to cut the conversation short.

Since the summer of 2021 and his arrival in the French Championship, the former idol of Arsenal and the France team was the joy of the Prime Video channel and its subscribers. Every big night was done by his side. Charismatic and accomplice with players and coaches, a talented populariser, he had everything the ideal partner for a presenter. This Monday, the main broadcaster of L1 therefore lost its star consultant, almost its loss leader.

It’s over with his tactical analyzes and his pointed questions on game patterns or such and such a technical gesture. He was selected by the FFF to lead the French team to the roof of Olympus next summer. A strong choice which, we do not worry about it, will leave the 46-year-old man in full light.

Prime Video, very discreet on the subject, knows that it will have difficulty in qualitatively replacing such a media character. “We are very happy for Thierry and wish him the best for his career,” soberly commented on the group, which recruited newly retired Adil Rami this summer. Internally, it is estimated for the moment to have the teams necessary to fill this departure without express recruitment.

Sunday evening, on the sidelines of Nice-Lyon, it is therefore Jérôme Alonzo and Édouard Cissé who will be in the cast.

A star also in the United States

This puzzle, Prime Video may not be the only one to face it. Also for two years, it is to the Americans of CBS that Thierry Henry has offered his services as a “showman” alongside Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher in the middle of the week during the evenings of the Champions League. In terms of entertainment and proximity to the cream of European football, we were still a step above. Everything was there to create the show and give the impression of closeness with the viewer

Among the viral punchlines uttered by Thierry Henry, we will remember this one concerning Vinicius, the Real Madrid tightrope walker: “When I see him with the ball, I can see what he is doing, I can feel it. He cooks,” raved Henry. Will he also have to draw a line under this activity? CBS has not yet officially reacted to this change of course in the career of its employee. According to information from RMC, the president of the FFF would not object to him continuing.

One million euros per year for 40 performances on Prime Video

By landing with the Hopes, crowned with a two-year contract, the Ile-de-France player does not choose money. He should receive the same income as his predecessor Sylvain Ripoll, around 40,000 euros gross per month. A salary to which bonuses will have to be added in the event of a notable performance during the Paris Olympics, of course, but also during Euro 2025.

Thierry Henry garnered on both sides of the Atlantic much higher incomes. According to the magazine Challenges, Prime Video paid him around one million euros for 40 performances. No such precise amount has been disclosed regarding its American activities.

We can in any case say that the world and European champion with the Blues has negotiated his post-career well. Since 2014, the second top scorer in the history of the selection has been able to alternate coaching (Belgium, Monaco, Montreal) and consulting activities. Between 2015 and 2018, he would have received, according to the English media, a little more than 4.5 million euros per year (four million pounds) when he officiated on the side of Sky Sports.

Thierry Henry now has 24 months to prove that he has the shoulders to lead a locker room, build a project and get a group to join. In case of failure, his technician rating would take a big hit. But our little finger tells us that her way out would be all found… and that she would have an air of deja-vu.