Thierry Henry suggests he IS interested in becoming USMNT coach

‘I know the players, I know the league’: Thierry Henry suggests he IS interested in becoming USMNT coach but warns being a World Cup host ‘is not easy’… as Jamie Carragher calls out for US Soccer ‘to get him in!’

• Thierry Henry has spent several years in MLS as both a player and as a coach  
•  He most recently served as an assistant coach for Belgium during the World Cup
• Click here for all your latest international Sports news from DailyMail.com

Thierry Henry has thrown his name into the hat to be the next manager of the United States after saying he wants to take charge of a team again.

Henry made his comments on the job while working in his normal role as an analyst for CBS Soccer for the European Champions League.

Along with being one of the game’s most legendary strikers, Henry also has a large amount of experience with American soccer after having both played and coached in Major League Soccer for a number of seasons.

Henry spent three seasons playing with for the New York Red Bulls while also coaching the Montreal Impact from 2019-2021.

‘Would I put my name in the hat? First and foremost, that’s a tricky one to talk about,’ Henry said. ‘Roberto Martinez went to coach Portugal and I’m not going with him. Being a number two is no longer something I would like to do. 

Thierry Henry said he is interested in coaching the United States ahead of the next World Cup

Henry spent several years in Major League Soccer playing with the New York Red Bulls

He also spent several years as the head coach of the Montreal Impact after coaching in Europe

‘Massive respect for the boss, he gave me an opportunity when no one else did. I’d like to have a crack [at management] again.’   

He continued on: ‘Do I know the [American] players? Yeah, I know the players. Do I know the league? Yeah, I know the league. It’s a different ballgame to talk about it now like that, but would I want to be a manager at any level? 

‘Yes, of course, that’s something I would want to do. But to go back to the U.S. national team and the U.S. in general, what’s the plan? What’s the philosophy? What do you want to be?

‘It’s not because you host a competition (like the US is with the 2024 Copa America and 2026 World Cup) it is no guarantee that they are going to go far.’

His fellow analyst, Jamie Carragher, made his own mind up quickly enough, calling out: ‘US Soccer, come on! You know what you’ve got to do! Appoint the man!’

Most recently Henry served in his second term as an assistant coach with the Belgian national team during the 2022 World Cup but was not retained along with Martinez.

The American head coaching job is currently held by interim head coach Anthony Hudson, who is expected to remain in charge of the squad until at least summer.

World Cup head coach Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired in January however national team officials stated that a decision would not be mad on his future until an investigation was completed into an incident that involved Berhalter in 1991 in which he kicked his future wife, Rosalind.

Berhalter issued a statement admitting to the incident before it was public knowledge due to US star Gio Reyna’s mother Danielle – former US midfielder Claudio Reyna’s wife- sent multiple text about the incident in response to Berhalter’s disparagement of Gio Reyna during the World Cup.

Reyna played a very limited role for his country in Qatar, despite his impressive domestic performances, leaving many American soccer fans confused and furious over his omission. 

In December, Berhalter revealed at a summit in New York City that an unidentified player was almost sent home from Qatar.

While Berhalter did not name the player in his comments, MLSSoccer.com first reported that it was Reyna that he was referencing.

Anthony Hudson is expected to remain USMNT interim coach until at least the summer 

Gregg Berhalter is currently out of contract as he is investigated by the US soccer federation

Gio Reyna was surprisingly given a limited role for the USA in their World Cup campaign 

Reyna’s mom Danielle (left) sent text to US Soccer about Berhalter kicking his wife in 1991

Furthermore, the USMNT took a vote on whether or not Reyna should stay with the team in Qatar – with the winger winning a vote by a 13-12 tally. 

Reyna later admitted he was emotional and lacked motivation but added that he was told before the World Cup that his role would be limited and that all team disputes would be kept ‘in house’. 

US soccer will likely however prioritize the hiring of a new president and a new general manager following the departures of Earnie Stewart and Brian McBride.

Although it has been said that the US is interested in big names like Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, while also being said to have offered the job to Zinedine Zidane, Henry or any head coach will likely have to wait until a new power structure is in place for US soccer before a head coaching decision is made.

Jose Mourinho is reportedly being eyed by US soccer as the countries next potential manager

Zinedine Zidane has reportedly turned down a chance to manage the USA national team

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