Arsenal legend Thierry Henry opens up on biggest career regret that’s ‘always stuck in my throat’
THIERRY HENRY won pretty much everything in his decorated career but his biggest regret was missing out on the Olympics.
The football icon, 46, famously lifted the World Cup in 1998 and the Euros two years later with France.
At club level, he celebrated success in the Champions League with Barcelona as well as two Premier Leagues and two FA Cups with Arsenal.
But he says missing out on representing his country at Olympic level at the Sydney 2000 Games still annoys him.
Henry will coach the men’s under-23 squad this summer on home soil and could pick Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe as one of the three over-aged players.
The Gunners legend said: “My generation had the opportunity to play in the Olympics.
“We didn’t qualify because we were eliminated by an Italian side who also had a generation of great players.
“And that’s something that’s always stuck in my throat.
“Yes, I experienced some great things after that, but it’s always stayed with me.
“Little did I know that, one day, I’d find myself at the helm of a team who had the chance to win an amazing title on home soil.
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“The Olympics is one of the only things I haven’t been able to experience in my life.
“It’s just crazy to think that, 26 years later after the World Cup, I’m in a situation like this one.”
Hosts France will face the USA in their opening group game in Marseille on July 24 – with the men’s gold medal match staged for the Parc des Princes in Paris on August 9.
Team GB failed to qualify a women’s team for the event.