Former France international striker and 1998 World Cup winner Thierry Henry has been appointed as the new head coach of the France under-21 team, the French Football Federation confirmed in a statement. Henry is set to take charge until 2025, leading his national team into next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Henry replaces Sylvain Ripoll, who was dismissed from the role after France’s early elimination from the European Under-21s earlier this year. Gerald Baticle is expected to fill the role of Henry’s assistant coach.
The all-time top scorer for France, this will be Henry’s first coaching role since leaving his role as assistant coach of Belgium’s senior national team following the conclusion of last year’s World Cup. Prior to his role for Belgium, Henry coached Arsenal’s youth team along with Monaco in Ligue 1 and CF Montreal in Major League Soccer.
Henry will take charge of France’s under-21 team against Denmark on September 7 before taking on Slovenia in a 2025 European Under-21 Championship qualification game four days later.
