Early in the 2002-03 season Arsenal fans had good reason to celebrate when Thierry Henry committed himself to Highbury for as long as the club wanted him. His superb form on the field helped him towards his winning of the prestigious Player of the Year award in April 2003.
Just four years earlier Henry had been languishing at juventus: he was neither assured of a first-team place, nor enjoying his football. An € I-million offer from Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger in August 1999 and the Turin club was happy to let him go. For Henry it was a chance to revitalise his career Wenger knew exactly what he was getting - he had signed Henry as a teenager when he was coach at Monaco. As a top junior sprinter v/ith the ball skills to match, Henry was set to make a huge contribution to the modern game. He started out as a speedy winger but Wenger made the inspired decision to play him in a central role at Arsenal. At first, even Henry himself wasn't convinced, but in his time at Highbury, he has proved to be one of the most lethal central strikers in world football.
World Cup 1998
It was in his home country, playing for his home nation that Henry broke through onto the international stage. In the World Cup in France in 1998, he hit three goals in the group matches, but missed out on a starting place in the final. A sending-off against Uruguay rounded off an avTuI tournament for both Henry and France in the 2002 World Cup. However next time around, in Germany in 2006, he will be only 28; there will be many more opportunities for talented Thierry Henry to make his mark on the biggest stage.
World History
