PARIS — Having helped France win trophies as a prolific ahead, Thierry Henry desires to steer Les Bleus to a long-awaited Olympic gold medal in his new function as coach.

Henry was employed as coach of the nationwide under-21 staff final week on a two-year contact, and he will even lead the France staff on the 2024 Paris Olympics. The French Olympic staff final received gold on the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, and Henry intends to place that proper.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve won. There’s a problem somewhere. We’re going to have to try and solve it,” Henry mentioned Tuesday at his first information convention. “Being on the podium is going to be something that’s outstanding, especially being at home in France.”

Henry hopes he doesn't encounter the identical issues as his predecessor, Sylvain Ripoll, who went to the Tokyo Games with out his finest gamers as a result of golf equipment refused to allow them to go.

Clubs would not have to launch gamers to the Olympics as a result of the FIFA-run match shouldn't be included on its worldwide match calendar, that means Ripoll needed to make a raft of modifications after asserting his squad.

Henry mentioned that he and French soccer federation president Philippe Diallo are already speaking to French soccer golf equipment to keep away from the same fiasco.

Henry helped France win the 1998 World Cup and the European Championship two years later, scoring 51 objectives in his profession with the nationwide staff. He is the all-time main scorer for Premier League staff Arsenal.

But the transition to teaching has not at all times been easy.

Henry had two spells as Belgium assistant coach. He additionally coached Monaco - the place he was fired after a tough spell - and Major League Soccer staff Montreal. He mentioned these experiences taught him many issues that he desires to share.

“After all, I like working with young people, and I’m good at talking to young people,” Henry mentioned. “So I hope it’ll be a positive thing.”

Henry’s different goal is qualifying France for the 2025 European under-21 Championship in Slovakia.

Henry’s first match in cost is a pleasant towards Denmark on Sept. 7 adopted by Slovenia 4 days later in a primary qualifying match for Euro 2025. His staff additionally faces Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Cyprus in its qualifying group.

Diallo praised Henry as the best selection.

“For the federation it is also an important moment, because we have two major deadlines in the coming season,” Diallo mentioned. “On the one hand, the qualification for the 2025 Euros, and on the other hand, an event that only happens once a century, the Olympic Games in Paris … We needed someone who could embody the Olympic ambition of the federation.”

Henry’s assistant coaches are his former Arsenal teammate Gaël Clichy and former striker Gérald Baticle.

Henry stop his function as a broadcaster to take the job.

“I wasn’t fulfilled,” Henry mentioned. “The French team is something you can’t turn down.”

• AP sports author Jerome Pugmire in Paris contributed to this story.

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