Henry still looking for manager's role despite Arsenal exit

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry still harbours ambitions of managing a club - even if it's not the Gunners.

Henry was in line to become Arsenal's under-18 boss until Arsene Wenger decided the 38-year-old couldn't properly balance his commitments. Henry also works as a pundit for Sky Sports, and he was assisting the youth team as he earned his badges.

But Henry played down his departure from the north London outfit, noting that he and Wenger had already discussed an exit before the end of the last Premier League season.

"Nothing will change my love for Arsenal," he told Mike McGrath from The Sun. "First and foremost, I wasn't an employee. I was allowed to go and pass my badges there. This decision was taken months ago, but I guess it came out now because the new season started and I wasn't there.

"I worked for the under-18s last year and I completed the season even though I knew I wouldn't be staying on the following year.

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"As you know, I have a current job. In my spare time, for free, I wanted to impart my knowledge and experiences in the game to the youngsters, while completing my coaching hours and also gaining knowledge to pass my pro licence."

Henry's perfectly happy to continue his career in management elsewhere, even though he now knows more about the thanklessness of the role.

"I understand Arsene a bit more now, along with all the coaches that I had while I was playing. It is not easy, especially with everyone now speaking on social media and judging you and thinking they know. It is very difficult and very complicated," the Frenchman said.

"At the highest level, you have to deal with the press, with the egos, with tactics, with everyone, with sponsors, with the economy of the club. I have massive respect for those guys, as before I used to arrive, train, and leave. I couldn't care less about what was happening because my job was to perform."