A top European striker has shared his experience with the “old-school” teachings of Arsenal icon Thierry Henry as the French striker is in contention for the Wales job.
The FAW sacked Rob Page last week following a three-and-a-half year tenure in the job after Wales failed to qualify for Euro 2024. BBC Sport have since reported that Henry is one of the names being considered for the prestigious position as boss of the national side.
Henry, who has managed Monaco and Montreal Impact, is currently in charge of the France Under-21s side and is preparing the country’s Olympics team for the Games in Paris next month.
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It has been reported that FAW bosses are keen to hire a big name, and striker Romelu Lukaku has previously warned of Henry’s strict tactics. Henry was part of the managerial staff of the Belgium national team between 2016 to 2018 and also through 2021-22.
Lukaku was aiming to become a more successful goalscorer for his national team and he previously recalled the Arsenal legend’s “very old school and very strict” approach in order to help him achieve this.
After a Champions League semi-final last year, Lukaku was asked by CBS if he missed working with Henry with Belgium, to which he agreed.
When discussing the former player’s coaching style, Lukaku said: “Very, very old school, very strict. When we met I was in the last season at Everton, I think. To be honest I told him that I want to hear it from you, give me the business, what can I do better?
“We sat together every day for that training camp for eight days, two days watching scouts of every game, every clip. There your touch was bad, there you did well. It was always half and half.
“Then from there I had my best year in the Prem, from there in the national team I started scoring every game. I’m very grateful to him, he still does it today, I like it. Tough coaches that tell me the real things that I want to hear. You don’t want to be pampered all the time, I think.”
Henry also said that he saw himself in Lukaku as he was very specific in his attention to detail and perfectionism. The former French striker said: “He’s a pain in the you know what, but in a good way, I was the same.
“It’s always for the good of the team, you always try to challenge everybody. Me, the coach, his teammates, himself. At times he’s very critical of himself and that’s why sometimes he can bring himself down because he doesn’t see the positive side of it.”
If Wales are looking to hire a name as big as Henry, they may need to prepare the team for the coaches tactics and style of managing the squad.