Thierry Henry stepped down as CF Montréal coach for family reasons, the club announced on Thursday.
Henry spent a season as Montreal’s head coach after taking charge before the 2020 season. He had an MLS 8-13-2 record, leading his club into the Audi MLS Cup playoffs as well as the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions League.
“It was with a heavy heart that I decided to make that decision,” Henry said in a club statement. “The past year has been extremely difficult for me personally. Due to the worldwide pandemic, I was unable to see my children. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing restrictions and the fact that we will have to move to the US again for several months, it will be no different. The separation is very exhausting for me and my children. Therefore, it is with great sadness that I must make the decision to return to London and leave CF Montreal. “
Henry inherited a Montreal team that lost the playoffs in 2019 and then sold its best player before the season, Ignacio Piatti, as well as another player designated during the season at Saphir Taider. The season ended devastatingly, losing to a goal in rebates against the New England Revolution in the Play-In round.
@clubdefootmtl pic.twitter.com/SklRRwsJiM
– Thierry Henry (@ThierryHenry) February 25, 2021
“Thierry’s departure is unfortunate and premature because it was very promising, but he informed me of his desire to be back with his family because the situation was and remains very difficult for him and his family,” said sporting director Olivier Renard . “I want to thank you, first on a human level because you set the example for the players last year, being away from the family, but also at a sports level and for what we have built together since his arrival. We wanted to elevate this club and we are on the right track. The process of finding a new head coach is already underway and I will look for someone who is in line with the philosophy we have implemented. “
After one of the most awarded careers in professional football history, including four and a half seasons in MLS with the New York Red Bulls, Henry began his coaching career at the English club Arsenal academy in February 2015. In August In 2016, Henry he became assistant coach of the Belgian national team alongside Roberto Martinez and helped the Red Devils advance to the FIFA World Cup 2018 semifinals, finishing third after beating England in the match for third place.
Thierry Henry renonce à ses fonctions d’entraîneur-chef pour des raisons familiales >>> https://t.co/s0wl9YAvVG@ThierryHenry is leaving the position of head coach for family reasons >>> https://t.co/zvswN7HeEk#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/g2S6xHgPmG
– CF Montreal (@clubdefootmtl) February 25, 2021
“I would like to thank the fans, players and the entire team at this club that made me feel so welcome,” said Henry. “I would also like to thank Kevin Gilmore, Olivier Renard and of course Joey and the entire Saputo family for giving me this wonderful opportunity. We had an impossible year together and making the playoffs with this group of people is an experience that I will never forget. Thank you all for being present on this journey and I wish you every success for the future. “
In the previous weeks, Henry had been associated with the coach’s vacancy at the championship club Bournemouth, although they announced over the weekend that interim coach Jonathan Woodgate would continue until the end of the season.