More stories

  • in

    Thierry Henry reveals he knew his career was over after heartbreaking moment with his daughter in New York

    THIERRY HENRY knew his career was over after a heartbreaking moment with his daughter.The former Arsenal forward hung up his boots in 2015 at the age of 37.
    Thierry Henry has revealed the moment he knew his career was overCredit: TheDiaryOfACEO
    He has now revealed that a long-term Achilles problem contributed to his decision to retire.
    Henry explained he knew his career was over after an incident with his daughter whilst playing for the New York Red Bulls.
    Appearing on The Diary Of A CEO podcast with Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett, he recalled the exact moment he realised it was time to hang up his boots.
    The Frenchman admitted: “Yeah there was a day, and you might laugh. But my daughter was at home in New York.
    READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
    “I suffered from an Achilles problem for more than 10 years both sides. I was in pain every morning, really, pain, the pain was never going away all day, both sides, both of my Achilles.
    “Sometimes, I felt a bit better, sometimes not but every morning, I was in pain, afternoon, night, for 10 years.”
    Henry continued: “So I’m at home with my daughter and she comes close to me, touches me and goes ‘you’re it,’ and she ran.
    “I wanted to run, I couldn’t. I wanted to run but I couldn’t. I looked at her and said ‘Hey you won’. I couldn’t chase her.
    Most read in Football
    Henry retired aged 37 in 2015 after five years with the New York Red BullsCredit: Getty
    “I stopped and went ‘What are you doing?’ Like, I just couldn’t, I’m not even joking Steven, she ran and I just couldn’t move. That’s when I knew, I couldn’t handle pain anymore.
    “This is what it is, forget about anything you can think of. You need to love pain to be an athlete.
    “And I know no pain no these whatever, no, this is real, you need to love pain. If not, stay where you are.”
    As for how he felt after retiring, Henry added: “I was in a way happy because I stopped.
    “People stopped because of injuries, some people stopped because of different stuff, I stopped, it was on my terms, I stopped. I knew I could still play, but I stopped.”
    The 46-year-old’s club career included spells with Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls.
    He retired with 360 goals and 177 assists in 794 club appearances, as well as winning league titles in France, England and Spain.
    Henry was also part of the Barcelona side which won the Champions League in 2009.
    Read more on The Sun
    For France, he scored 51 times in 123 caps, winning both the World Cup and Euros with Les Bleus.
    Since retiring, Henry has turned to punditry and coaching, serving as France’s under-21s boss since August.
    The Frenchman is now a pundit alongside his role as France’s under-21s managerCredit: Alamy More

  • in

    Lionel Messi could start MLS debut on the BENCH hints manager despite tickets selling for nearly £20,000

    LIONEL MESSI is set to be benched for Inter Miami’s MLS opener against New York Bulls, despite tickets selling for nearly £20,000.After a remarkable first month in the US, the Argentine legend was lined up to make his Major League Soccer debut this Saturday at the Red Bull Arena.
    Lionel Messi is set to be on the bench in Inter Miami’s MLS openerCredit: Alamy
    The Inter Miami captain has so far scored 10 goals for the team and led his side to victory winning the Leagues Cup last Saturday against Nashville SC.
    But he has yet to showcase his talent in the MLS.
    Fans assumed the World Cup champion would be starting in Inter Miami’s MLS opener- causing a frenzy on ticket resale sites.
    Some fans are flogging their seat at the game for up to $23,528 (£18,624).

    But Inter Miami boss Tata Martino has said the ex-Barcelona star has reached a “physical limit”, hinting Messi may not start Saturday and needs some well-deserved rest.
    Martino said after Wednesday’s win over Cincinnati: “Leo and many other players are reaching an important physical limit and from today we will start to evaluate this.”
    Since his debut on July 21, the 36-year-old has played eight matches in 33 days – accumulating nearly 750 minutes of football.
    The ex-Mexico boss added: “You also have to take into account the large number of games that we played in 45, 50 days.”
    Most read in Football
    Messi has started every game for Inter Miami besides coming on as a second-half sub for his Leagues Cup debut against Cruz Azul on July 21st.
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    The Inter Miami captain was expected to make his MLS debut against Charlotte FC on August 20th.
    But the match was postponed due to both teams’ Leagues Cup commitments.
    That saw Saturday’s tickets for the match in New York skyrocket on resale websites.
    On Monday – almost a week out from matchday – the lowest-priced ticket (including all fees) on the website Gametime costs a staggering $610.
    The top-priced seats were being flogged for $17,554 a piece- once nearly $6,000 worth of taxes are added on, the total cost is $23,528. 
    Tata Martino has said Messi has reached a ‘physical limit’Credit: AP More

  • in

    I’ve played in the Premier League & MLS… English fans are ignorant, I knew after first trip to US I’d never come home

    BRADLEY WRIGHT-PHILLIPS believes English fans are ignorant of other leagues and he would encourage players to move to MLS.The former striker started his playing career at Manchester City and made 32 Premier League appearances for the club.
    Bradley Wright-Phillips is New York Red Bulls record goalscorerCredit: Getty
    The former striker played alongside Thierry Henry at the clubCredit: Getty
    Wright-Phillips also played for Southampton, Plymouth, Charlton and Brentford in the EFL with varying success, but proved he had an eye for goal when he struck more than 20 goals in successive League One seasons between 2010-2012.
    But his career really took off following a transfer to New York Red Bulls in 2013.
    Wright-Phillips played alongside the likes of Thierry Henry in the Big Apple and loved the club from the moment he touched down in the US.
    He became the club record goalscorer with 126 goals in all competitions and now works as assistant sporting director at New York Red Bulls.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    In an exclusive interview with SunSport the 38-year-old reflected on his MLS move and revealed he was never going to return to England after his first visit to the Red Bulls.
    Wright-Phillips said: “I enjoyed my stint here. There was something about playing in England – it was my dream to play in the best league in the world.
    “It just wasn’t my story and I felt at a certain time when I went on loan to Brentford it just felt like I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was supposed to find a different path and adventure and it worked out well for me.
    “I went to New York on holiday. My agent had told me ‘listen they’re interested in you signing here but go over and train for a while’.
    Most read in Football
    BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
    “I just wanted to go on holiday. It was New York and I get to train with Theirry Henry, but when I got there I saw the facilities, the standard of player, I was never coming back home.
    “It was eye-opening for me, us English folk are ignorant to every other league almost, and rightly so we grow up with the Premier League, EFL and we think that’s the only thing in the world. I was very surprised when I got to the MLS and New York, it was amazing.”
    Asked whether he would encourage young players to move to the US, Wright-Phillips added: “Yes 100 per cent. Without being disrespectful you can play in lots of places around England, but [in the US] you can play in Boston, New York, LA, Portland, St Louis.
    “All amazing cities to play football in, these are unbelievable places with great atmospheres.”
    Wright-Phillips has moved into punditry since hanging up his boots but it has proved to be more difficult than his first anticipated.
    Luckily his dad Ian Wright was on hand to point him in the right direction, and provided a key bit of advice to help him ease into the world of analysis.
    Wright-Phillips explained: “He told me to be myself, [and] as long as you can take that comment you made about a team or a player to bed with you, then I guess it’s okay.” More