His successful soccer career, which began in Monaco, continued with Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona, and New York Red Bulls. Able to play both forward and winger, Thierry Henry left his mark on every team he played for. He played for Arsenal between 1999 and 2007, where he became a legend, scoring 174 goals in 254 appearances, cementing his place among the London club’s legends. A statue of him was even erected at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
The Thierry Henry statue outside the Emirates Stadium
His name has become synonymous with Arsene Wenger, his manager at Monaco and later at Arsenal. He scored 284 goals in 581 appearances. Thierry Henry achieved great success not only with his club team but also with his national team. In 1998, he joined the French national team, winning its first World Cup. He also won the UEFA Euro 2000 and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003. Here are the achievements and awards Thierry Henry has earned in his career:
Monaco
- Ligue 1: 1996-97
- Trophée des champions: 1997
Arsenal
- Premier League: 2001-02, 2003-04
- FA Cup: 2002, 2003, 2005
- Community Shield: 2002, 2004
- UEFA Cup: final 1999-2000
Barcelona
- La Liga (2): 2008-09, 2009-10
- Copa del Rey: 2008-09
- Supercopa de España: 2009
- UEFA Champions League: 2008-09
- UEFA Super Cup: 2009
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2009
New York Red Bulls
- Major League Soccer Eastern Conference: 2010, 2013
- Supporters’ Shield: 2013
France National Soccer Team
- FIFA World Cup: 1998
- UEFA Euro 2000: 2000
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2003
Individual
- UEFA Euro 2000 All-Star Team: 2000
- Confederations Cup Top Scorer: 2003
- Confederations Cup Golden Ball: 2003
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
- Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year: 1996-97
- England Player of the Year: 2002-03, 2003-04
- European Golden Shoe: 2004, 2005
- Premier League Top Scorer: 2001-02, 2003-04, 2004-05 2005-06
- Onze d’Or: 2003, 2006
- England Team of the Year: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
- FYD Player of the Year Award: 2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06
- FIFPro World XI Forward: 2006
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
- French Player of the Year: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
- English Soccer Hall of Fame: 2008
- Premier League Player of the Month: April 2000, September 2002, January 2004, April 2004
- FIFA 100
- Time 100: 2007
Orders
- Légion d’Honneur: 1998
You can read the details on Wikipedia: https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thierry_Henry
Let me explain why I’m detailing Thierry Henry’s career. Someone with Henry’s character doesn’t talk nonsense. If he’s talking, he knows something, possessing significant knowledge on and off the field, and as someone who has contributed so much to soccer, it’s worth listening to carefully.
A photo from Thierry Henry’s short-lived managerial tenure
Recently, on a CBS program, he said he wanted to get rid of unsavory tactics like wasting time, a practice that teams like Newcastle and Brentford have mastered this season, and he announced five new rules to revolutionize soccer, including extra points for goals (you can read the details in the link below). https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/sporarena/fransiz-futbolunun-efsane-ismi-thierry-henryden-5-cilgin-oneri-hakem-mac-sonu-konussun-sahada-da-mikrofon-taksin-42266846 ):
1) Time Wasting
If a team tries to waste time, the opposing team should be awarded a free kick from 20-25 meters away, as in rugby. “Just play soccer, that’s my rule…”
My Comment: I agree with this rule. Alternatively, the player trying to waste time could be asked to come off for 5 minutes. This way, the team that plays fairly without wasting time has the advantage of playing one more player than the team trying to waste time for 5 minutes.
2) 1 extra point for every 3 goals
Teams that score 3 goals in a game should receive an extra point, regardless of the result. For example, in a Fulham vs. Leicester game that ended 5-3, Fulham would have received 4 points, and Leicester would have received 1 point.
My Comment: This is a good proposal. I’m always thinking about how we can increase the number of goals, which is the beauty of soccer. We get really bored in some games where the score is low, like 0-0 or 1-0. Not conceding is as important as scoring. I don’t think defenders in soccer get the respect they deserve as much as forwards. Therefore, an alternative to this proposal could be to record every difference scored as a point. For example, in a 5-3 Fulham-Leicester game, a point could be awarded to Fulham for a 2-point lead. This would earn Fulham 5 points, and Leicester no points.
3) Microphones for Referees
Referees should speak to the press after the game and wear microphones while on the field. I want to hear what they say because sometimes they’re not that polite, and sometimes I wasn’t. Could you please explain your mistakes or how great you are? We sometimes want to tell you how great you are, or how bad you are, as people tell us.
My Comment: I agree 100%. There are some very dishonest and egotistical referees. If the whole stadium heard what the referees said, I’m sure the negative impact they have on the players would be mitigated, and they would be much more careful about making wrong or biased decisions. In addition to this proposal, referees should be interviewed after the game, just like managers are interviewed after the game. In fact, positions should be discussed in the heat of the moment after the game.
Thierry Henry’s suggestion received significant support, particularly from fellow studio commentators Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards. Carragher responded with the question, “Would you respect them more then?” Henry’s response was quite clear: “Yes. I can understand someone saying, ‘Because that’s what I saw. I made a mistake.’ And I move on. What bothers me is that they don’t explain anything and just go into hiding.”
4) Injury
In the event of an injury during a game, a substitute should be substituted while the player is off the field receiving treatment. This avoids teams being down to 10 men and prevents doctors from making hasty assessments.
My comment: I agree with this suggestion 100%. Instead of wasting time on a genuinely injured player, it prevents unfairly playing with one man down, prevents the game from slowing down, and prevents doctors from making hasty decisions. To further develop this idea, if the manager is happy with the player’s performance, he should be able to continue. Finally, I don’t think there should be any limits on the right to substitute players. To ensure that players who put in such high effort consistently maintain their performance, as in ice hockey, substitutions should be unlimited.
5) Transfers
Players should definitely be able to try out teams before transferring. You don’t buy a house without visiting them first. You leave in the morning, you leave in the evening, and you hear the noise. I’ve seen many players brought in without knowing whether they’ll adapt. What do you know about them or their history? Managers and sporting directors should make sound judgments about transfers.
My Comment: I agree with this suggestion. They should even be given the right to play in five official games. If a player isn’t liked, they should be able to return to their current team. If they are, they should be able to sign a contract with pre-arranged terms and join their new team. Incidentally, I believe this right to choose should be two-way. For example, if the new team they’re transferring to likes the player, but the player doesn’t like the team they’re transferring to and wants to return to their former team, the player should be given this right, and they should be able to return to their former team as they wish.
My Additional Suggestions
The new regulations Henry, who achieved unforgettable success with Arsenal, wanted to introduce to soccer received widespread praise on social media. The idea of referees speaking to the media after games and wearing microphones on the field was particularly popular. I have other ideas to add to these popular ideas to increase the dynamism of soccer. Let me share them:
1) Eliminating Offside Rules
This is the rule I’ve focused on most. Offside rules absolutely must be eliminated in soccer games. Games played with the offside rule are like driving with the handbrake on. It slows down the tempo and significantly reduces the number of goals, which is the beauty of soccer. I absolutely disagree with the notion that “offside goals provide an unfair advantage.” In all team sports, games are fought with strategies developed to gain advantage. Everyone identifies the opponent’s weaknesses and focuses on them. Even if an offside rule is introduced, tactics can easily be adjusted to suit a normal offside game.
2) Four quarters of 20 or 25 minutes
I believe that soccer should accelerate, approaching basketball to increase the tempo and score. Therefore, I believe that four quarters of 20 or 25 minutes should be played instead of two 45-minute halves. Players who take more breaks and breathe can start the next quarter at a faster pace.
3) Penalty Adjustment
Often, shoddy penalties give one team a seriously unfair advantage over the other. I believe penalties should be abolished. Instead, if there is a foul or a handball, a free kick should be awarded from the location of the infraction. This would prevent these injustices.
4) Avoiding Draws
Quite often, draws are frustrating. Neither the shish kebab nor the kebab are on fire. Instead, if a game ends in a draw, each team will play five goal-side tricks (a midfielder will try to score, while the goalkeeper will try to prevent the goal. The player will have one shot at goal) to try to score against the goalkeeper, maximizing the viewing experience at the end. In a draw, the team that wins the goal-side tricks will earn 2 points, and the team that loses will earn 1 point. This way, both teams will be rewarded for their efforts throughout and after the game.
5) Reducing the Field Size
We aim to increase the tempo by eliminating offsides and playing games in four quarters. In my opinion, the length of the field, currently 100-110 meters, should be reduced to 80-90 meters to allow the players to fully utilize this fast-paced game. The width of 64-75 meters should also remain intact. This will allow us to witness games that are constantly dynamic and full of action.
6) Replacing Referees with Artificial Intelligence
In previous articles, I described the VAR system. I wrote that, like in basketball, the game should be stopped and the situation reviewed. I was personally delighted that the VAR system was being implemented worldwide. However, we’ve seen that even VAR, especially in the Turkish soccer league, is being corrupted. Referees who want to take sides can turn to VAR when they want to and ignore it when they don’t. Sometimes, the VAR referee can be biased. He can manipulate the system as he pleases. I believe that to prevent such fraudulent behavior stemming from human weaknesses, AI must be fully adapted to soccer. In other words, AI will manage the game. It will instantly identify the position and relay it to the referee coordinating on the field, who will then immediately evaluate the warning and have the decision implemented. Decisions made and implemented by AI will be beyond question. They will be implemented instantly and without compromise. Referees who fail to do so will first receive a warning. If they make the same mistake in a second game, their refereeing duties will be terminated. In other words, referees who coordinate on the field, will be obligated to implement all decisions made by AI without compromise. This will prevent injustices in soccer, often referred to as the game of errors. We will also put an end to the lengthy debates over refereeing decisions that take place after every game. In my opinion, these debates are an unnecessary waste of energy in our society.
7) Measures to be Taken Against Racist Chants and Swearwords
If racist chants occur on soccer fields, which we absolutely do not want to see, the referee will issue a warning. If the chants continue, the referee should have the right to end the game immediately and award the team subjected to the chants a 3-0 victory. This means, on the points scale I created, awarding 6 points to the winning team and no points to the losing team. The same principle applies to swearwords. A warning is issued, followed by the right to end the game immediately. After this rule is implemented, if racism or swearing becomes a problem, let it be. We want games to have a family atmosphere and for fans to support their teams with positive and positive chants.
These are also my suggestions. In the future, some of Thierry Henry’s and my own suggestions will be implemented. Then, we will witness games that are much more enjoyable to watch. After all, soccer is by far the most popular sport in the world. Imagine, 4-5 billion people can watch a World Cup game. Soccer has become a shared culture worldwide. We need to nurture it and ensure its progress.
Frankly, I have serious doubts about FIFA’s ability to make these changes. I’ve previously written an article criticizing FIFA: https://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/ikiyuzluluk-ve-yasaklar-futbola-ne-katar
FIFA’s outdated structure and the corruption within it could hinder the desire to make such radical decisions and advance the game. Perhaps, instead of FIFA, another organization (which could even be established from scratch) could undertake this mission to develop and spread the idea of “advanced soccer.” This would be a very beneficial development for soccer and humanity.
Tag: education
