In some of the least surprising news this week, Ligue 1 strugglers AS Monaco have sacked Thierry Henry as manager after 20 games in charge (BBC), with his predecessor Leonardo Jardim expected to take the reins at the principality club once again.
Jardim departed the club with whom he had won the 2016/17 league title at the beginning of October, with Les Monegasques third from bottom. He was sacked somewhat prematurely after just five games; two points from two draws, without a single win. Henry has added to that tally by just 13 points, with Monaco sitting slightly above rock-bottom Guingamp in the league after 21 games.
The Arsenal legend signed off with an expletive-laded tirade at Strasbourg defender Kenny Lala, who helped inflict a 5-1 defeat of Monaco the past gameweek in what is now Henry’s last fixture as coach, bringing a sorry end to difficult first steps into the unforgiving world of management.
It’s been a tenure of few high-points; at least he had a brief reunion with former teammates Patrick Viera (on the touchline) and Cesc Fabregas (brought from the Chelsea wilderness).
He’ll now likely be reunited with his Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, although more noticeably schtum whenever Red Nev’s own ill-fated managerial spell with Valencia gets brought up.
Neville was sacked at the end of March 2016 after four months in charge of VCF. Valencia won three of their 16 league games under his management, and 10 of 28 games overall.
If you’re doing a list of other failed great players turned managers, you cannot fail to mention Diego Maradona. The Argentina legend’s escapades down the touchline were a tragic sideshow in the 2010 World Cup, dressed to the nines in an oversized suit. His enthusiasm was unquestionable, his management skill less so.
Maradona has persisted after his 24 games in charge of the national team, and is now in charge of Mexican second tier side Dorados de Sinaloa (just don’t tell Dinamo Brest…)
England’s own Maradona, Paul Gascoigne is still rarely out of the headlines, but the Geordie’s managerial career is as predictably manic as other aspects of his life. The iconic Newcastle and Tottenham hero tried to earn his spurs in China – of course, where else would you start? – and Boston United. “I can become a great coach and a great manager” Gazza said at the time. 39 days at Kettering Town in 2005 – his last spell in management so far – say otherwise. Unfortunately, unlike Brian Clough’s tenure at Leeds United, this tale has so far failed to make it onto the silver screen.