Henry slammed for amateur attitude by Marc Wilmots

Gunners legend Thierry Henry has recently taken up a coaching role with the Belgium national football team. However, former manager Marc Wilmots has slammed his appointment.

After finishing his career as one of the greatest Premier League strikers of all time, Thierry Henry has decided to try his hand at coaching. Gooners were excited that Henry was appointed the assistant manager of the Arsenal U18 team back in April 2016.

However, Henry left the job a few months later after he was told that he would have to dedicate himself fully to the role and stop working as a pundit for Sky Sports. The Frenchman was then appointed as the second assistant manager of the Belgium national team in August 2016.

The appointment has not gone down well with former Belgium manager Marc Wilmots, who managed the Red Devils from 2012 to 2016. Wilmots recently slammed Henry, saying that working as both a coach and a TV commentator was amateurish.

“You always give your own club priority,” Wilmots told Belgian publication Nieuwsblad.

“Whether you work for the national team, whether you work for a club. You can not work as a television commentator and also work as a trainer for the national team. That’s pure amateurism. I was against it. “

Arsenal's Captain, Frenchman Thierry Henry (L) celebrates with countryman manager Arsene Wenger (R) after scoring from a penalty shot during their Premiership match against Charlton at home to Arsenal, 02 January 2006. (Photo by Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images) — Arsenal’s Captain, Frenchman Thierry Henry (L) celebrates with countryman manager Arsene Wenger (R) after scoring from a penalty shot during their Premiership match against Charlton at home to Arsenal, 02 January 2006. (Photo by Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images)

Henry has developed into one of the most revered pundits in the game working with Sky Sports. Although doing full-time punditry and full-time coaching at the same time is impossible, his second assistant manager’s role with Belgium could be far less taxing than the U18 assistant manager’s role at Arsenal.

The Frenchman completed his UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence requirements under the guidance of the Welsh FA in March and is able to manage a team below Premier League level. His commitment to Sky Sports prevented him from further developing his coaching career at Arsenal. However, Henry’s future may well see him return to the Premier League in a managerial role, provided he moves away from his TV role and focuses on coaching full-time.