Thierry Henry would welcome the opportunity to lead the United States in the next World Cup on home soil but wants proper plans in place.
Thierry Henry is interested in taking the United States head coach vacancy if he is given every chance of making them a force in the next World Cup 2022 on home soil.
USA is looking for a new boss after Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of last year.
Henry completed a second spell with Belgium as Roberto Martinez’s assistant after the World Cup in Qatar, with the Spaniard having since left that role to take charge of Portugal.
Former Montreal Impact boss Henry would welcome the challenge of leading the 2026 World Cup co-hosts, provided plans are put in place to give them the best possible opportunity to go far in three years’ time.
The France legend told CBS Sports: “Do I know the players? Yes, I know the players. Do I know the league? Yes, I know the league. Do I want to be a manager at any level? Yes, of course there is something I would like to do.
“To come back to the U.S. in general, what’s the plan? What’s the philosophy? What do you want to be? When you ask that question, you’ll eventually find those answers. It’s not because “he’s going to host a competition that you’ll go far automatically, we’re seen with some big teams.
“Big teams sometimes can’t win it at home and small teams often don’t. I remember when South Korea got to the semi-finals [in 2002]. I remember when South Korea stopped their league and went to a camp for eight months. to try to perform and people wondered why they were so fit and made it to the semi-finals.
“So what will the plan be? I’m not talking about myself here, I’m talking about the national team.”
Henry believes he has served his time as an assistant.
And he added: “Being number two is not something I want to do anymore. Huge respect to Roberto Martinez. He gave me an opportunity when no one else did, but I would like to get one more chance.”
