As Thierry Henry prepares to make his Major League Soccer debut for the New York Red Bulls against Toronto FC on August 11, we run through a few numbers close to the French striker’s heart...
0...
The number of matches Henry’s Arsenal lost on their way to the 2003/04 English Premier League title. The Frenchman played an integral part in the team’s success, scoring an incredible 30 league goals in just 37 games as the Gunners became the first team since Preston North End in 1889 to go a whole league campaign unbeaten. They would also surpass Nottingham Forest’s 26-year record of 42 league games unbeaten before they eventually lost to bitter rivals Manchester United in the 50th game of their run.
14...
The shirt worn by Henry during his spells at Arsenal, Barcelona and now the Red Bulls. While at Arsenal, Thierry won the Premier League twice, the FA Cup three times as well as helping the Gunners to the UEFA Cup final in 2000 and the Champions League final in 2006. His Midas touch continued in Catalonia as he won two La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the Super Cup and the World Club Cup. And, the man from Paris is determined to deliver some silverware to the Big Apple, “I do go to New York for vacations, but not this time. I’m a competitor and I will do everything in my power to win.”
17...
Henry’s age when he made his debut for AS Monaco, in France. Initially deployed on the wing by then-coach Arsene Wenger, his pace terrorised defences throughout a five-year spell in the principality as he notched 28 goals in 141 appearances for the club. International recognition also followed before an ill-feted transfer to Italian giants Juventus.
123...
The number of international caps won for France – which puts Henry second on his country’s all-time list behind Lillian Thuram. After making his international debut against South Africa in October 1997, Henry went on to become a World Cup-winner in 1998 – finishing the tournament as France’s top scorer despite sitting out the final. More success followed as France won Euro 2000, with Henry netting a vital goal in the semi-final against Portugal. Thierry went on to play in four World Cups, and three European Championships for Les Bleus while he is currently his country’s all-time top-scorer with 51 international goals.
226...
Henry isn’t just France’s top-scorer – oh no – he’s also scored more goals than any player ever to play for Arsenal. Despite failing to find the net in any of his first eight games for the north London club, Thierry went on to smash the previous record of 185 goals set by Ian Wright and finished with an incredible 226 goals in all competitions. During his time in England, he finished as the Premier League’s top scorer four times, won the European Golden Boot twice, won the PFA Player of the Year award twice and was named Football Writers’ Player of the Year three times. Henry also finished runner-up in the World Player of the Year Awards twice while at Arsenal.
48,500,000...
The amount of money, in Euro, that has been spent on Henry during his glittering career. His impressive displays as a youngster for Monaco and France prompted Juventus to pay €12.5m for the winger-cum-striker. However, after an unhappy spell in Italy and just 16 appearances for the Turin giants, Henry was on the move again, this time to Arsenal for €12m. Henry was reunited with Arsene Wenger in north London and arguably played the finest football of his career as both individual and team success followed. However, in 2007 the Frenchman swapped London for Barcelona in search of a Champions League-winners medal, while the Catalan club handed over €24m for the pleasure.
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