Arsenal Legend, Thierry Henry Gets New Coaching Job

Former French professional footballer, Thierry Henry, has been appointed head coach for France’s under-21 team.

Henry will, from his appointment day, August 21, 2023, head the team until 2025, Naija News understands.

Henry’s appointment was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by the French Football Federation, where it noted that former Angers manager, Gerald Baticle, will join the Arsenal legend as an assistant coach.

The 46-year-old pundit turned coach will make his Under-21 coaching debut against Denmark on September 7 before France takes on Slovenia in Euro qualifying four days later.

Henry will also head the team at next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, succeeding Sylvain Ripoll, who was fired following France’s early exit from this year’s European Under-21s.

This comes after he left his position as Belgium’s assistant coach following last year’s World Cup.

Henry had coached Arsenal’s junior squads, AS Monaco in Ligue 1 and Montreal in Major League Soccer.

In 2014, Henry retired as Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer (228 goals) with 123 caps and 51 goals for France.

Atletico Madrid Sign Nigerian-Born Striker Samu Odorodion

Meanwhile, Spanish La Liga giants, Atletico Madrid, have signed Nigerian-born Spanish forward, Samu Odorodion from Granada.

Reports in Spain claimed that Atletico Madrid was attracted to signing the 19-year-old forward after Granada featured him in a La Liga game against Atlético on Monday, August 14.

During the game, Samu Odorodion made the match very difficult for coach Diego Simeone and his boys, but he was not enough to stop Atlético Madrid from scoring, Naija News reports.

In the game, Morata gave Atletico Madrid the lead, and Odorodion gave Granada the equalizer in the 62nd minute. However, Atletico regained the lead four minutes after, and Llorente made it 3-1 in injury time.

Days after the game, Atletico Madrid triggered Samu Odorodion’s release clause, which is worth €6 million, before Granada extended the player’s contract to 2028 and increased his release clause to €40 million.

However, Italian journalist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, confirmed today that Atlético Madrid and Granada have agreed to honour the initial release clause of €6 million.

However, Samu Odorodion would remain on loan at Granada until the end of the current season and then join the Madrid-based club next summer, where he is expected to play until June 30, 2028.