'I’m Passionate': Thierry Henry On Why He Leans More Towards Management Than TV Career

France football great Thierry Henry has revealed why he is more inclined to managing teams than pursuing a career as a football pundit.

During a recent interaction on CBS Sports, Henry spoke about the pressure of being a coach, highlighting the scheduled departure of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.

At the beginning of the conversation, the France U-21 manager was asked, “TV is easy money for you certainly. Coaching is going to take a toll that would never take on you. Then why are you so bent despite knowing the pressure that comes with the job? Why not go for the easy option?”

Henry was quick to reply as he referred to his passion for football, saying, “Because of my passion. I’m passionate and that’s as simple as that. I’m not sure what I’m going to tell you at the end of my contract.”

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The 46-year-old further shared his thoughts about Jurgen Klopp slated to wrap up his long, successful managerial career at Liverpool at the end of this season. Henry feels Klopp has made the right decision as it will help preserve his sanity. The former Arsenal forward assumed that the pressure and workload at Anfield might have led Klopp to take this step.

“Pep was at Barcelona, took a sabbatical year. Klopp is at Liverpool and is stopping. Xavi is in Barcelona, he is also stopping. That’s a dream job normally and they are stopping. That tells you a story. The pressure, everybody has a voice, social media and whatnot. It is tough to be a manager and no one cares about you. You’re going to have to take care of yourself at one point,” Henry explained.

Jurgen Klopp has achieved tremendous success since taking up the managerial job at Liverpool back in 2015. Having won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup, Klopp is the only Liverpool manager to secure six different major trophies during his spell at Anfield. He is also the longest-serving Premier League boss, followed by Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.

Thierry Henry reckons not only Liverpool but the Premier League will also miss Klopp. “We know that. We know that is true. But he was missing his family, he was missing his own time, he was missing his sanity. So good for him. When I got the news, I was like: ‘Good for you’,” he said.

Speaking about Henry’s emerging coaching career, the former footballer took over the charge of the French U-21 team last year. He has previously worked as a deputy of Belgium manager Roberto Martinez.