Thierry Henry’s first managerial job has not gone as expected.
And it may be over.
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Uncertainty surrounds Henry’s future as the manager of Monaco, as the Ligue 1 club have suspended the legendary French striker from his normal duties as they decide whether or not he will be fired.
Monaco released a short statement Thursday where they stated: “AS Monaco has decided to suspend first-team coach Thierry Henry.”
They also confirmed that Franck Passi, Henry’s assistant who was hired in December, will take charge of first team duties.
Speculation had been rife that Henry would be fired and former manager, Leonardo Jardim, would replace him.
Henry signed his former teammate Cesc Fabregas earlier this month to try and help out his struggling side but they’ve won just five of his 20 games in charge. In their last Ligue 1 game they were smashed 5-1 by Strasbourg and then lost 3-1 to Metz in the French cup this week.
After the defeat to Strasbourg Henry apologized for swearing at opposition defender Kenny Lala.
Henry took the Monaco job in October and was tasked with leading them away from the relegation zone after Jardim was fired. The situation has got worse at the Stade Louis II, with Monaco crashing out of the UEFA Champions League in humiliating fashion and they sit second form bottom in Ligue 1.
Many raised eyebrows when Henry left his role as assistant coach of the Belgium national team and a lucrative contract with Sky Sports as a pundit to manage Monaco, and it seems as though his flirtation as a head coach will be a brief and miserable experience.
He took over a struggling side which had seen many of its star players sold off, yet again, but they still have the quality to be higher up in the Ligue 1 table than they are.