Thierry Henry ‘IS interested in becoming a USMNT manager’

Thierry Henry is reportedly open to the idea of ​​managing the US men’s national team amid claims he turned down the chance to be the head coach of the France women’s national team.

The Arsenal legend left his post as Belgium’s assistant manager following the nation’s dismal World Cup campaign.

His then No. 1 Roberto Martinez has gone on to take charge of Portugal, while Henry’s next step as manager remains unclear as he continues his pundit duties.

But he’s interested in the USMNT vacancy, according to ESPNwith US Soccer yet to decide its permanent head following the investigation into previous head coach Gregg Berhalter.

Anthony Hudson has acted as the US’s interim head coach amid the US Soccer scandal that has dominated headlines since last year’s World Cup.

A wild few months of shocking rumors and explosive developments began in Qatar when Gio Reyna was almost sent home for his apparent lack of effort, leading to the publication of shocking details and the start of a formal investigation.

It all came to a head this week when the results of the investigation were released, with details about Reyna’s parents, Claudio and Danielle, who sent years of text messages, emails and calls to US Soccer bosses complaining. of your child’s treatment and playing time in the international setting.

The investigation, ordered by US Soccer, focused on a domestic violence incident involving him and his now-wife Rosalind in 1992.

Berhalter admitted to kicking his wife after she punched him in the face in an argument one night in a bar when they were 18, and the report called it an “isolated incident” without “evidence to suggest” there was more. . affairs.

The drama came under the spotlight in the aftermath of the World Cup when it was revealed that Claudio and Danielle Reyna, the parents of player Gio and former friends of the Berhalters, had notified bosses about the 1992 incident.

The report said that Reyna’s parents spoke with then-US Soccer boss Earnie Stewart on the evening of December 11, 2022 to reveal “information about Mr. Berhalter… that Ms. Reyna had known for decades and …the information was released at a time that would be expected to discourage or otherwise influence the organization from offering Mr. Berhalter a contract extension.’

However, despite these actions, Alston and Bird’s report says they do not constitute blackmail or extortion.

Following the release of the report, the USSF confirmed that Berhalter is still in the running to continue as the US head coach, despite the fact that he withdrew from the team in the aftermath of the World Cup.

Henry has thrown his hat into the ring with the US returning to action next week in the CONCACAF Nations League.

French Football Federation committee member Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed that he personally asked the former Montreal Impact boss if he would be interested in replacing Corinne Diacre as France Women boss.

“He considered it, Thierry,” Aulas said. le figaro. ‘I personally asked him the question, but the answer was not positive.

‘Obviously he was very flattered to be asked. We did it because we were told that he might be interested.

But it won’t be Thierry Henry. I think he’s moving on to other projects.’

In January, Henry denied reports that he had offered his services to the Belgian FA to take over as head coach.

‘I would like to make it very clear that, contrary to written reports, I have never contacted the Belgian FA to offer my services as the new first team manager. I think it is vital that the truthful version of the facts is always presented,” he said. sky sports.

Henry suggested he was interested in the USMNT head coaching role last month.

‘Would you put my name in the hat? First of all, it’s hard to talk about it,” Henry said. CBS.

‘Roberto Martínez went to train in Portugal and I am not going with him. Being a number two is no longer something I would like to do.

‘Massive respect for the boss, he gave me a chance when no one else did. I would like to have a crack [at management] again.

‘Do I know the [American] players? Yes, I know the players. Do I know the league? Yes, I know the league. It’s a different ball game to talk about it now, but would I want to be a manager at any level?

‘Yes, of course, that’s something I’d like to do. But going back to the US national team and the US in general, what’s the plan? What is the philosophy? What do you want to be?

“It’s not because you host a competition (as the US is with the 2024 Copa América and the 2026 World Cup) it’s no guarantee that they’re going to go far.”