Barcelona reportedly eyeing Montreal Impact's Thierry Henry as candidate for next coach

Report: Barcelona include Henry among list of coaching candidates

Thierry Henry - Montreal Impact - close up

UPDATE (Aug. 17, 10:30 am ET): Impact fans can rest easy — Barcelona-based ESPN reporter Moi Llorens is reporting that Ronald Koeman is set to take over as Barça manager.



After Barcelona's embarrassing 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on Friday, the club are expected to move on from manager Quique Setien.


And according to Barcelona-based outlet Sport, the club have included Montreal Impact manager and former Barcelona star Thierry Henry among a list of potential candidates.


There is little need for Impact fans to be worried at this stage, however. While the report lists Henry, current Netherlands national team manager Ronald Koeman and former Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri as being among those on Barcelona's shortlist, it also makes clear former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is the favored target. 

Barcelona reportedly eyeing Montreal Impact's Thierry Henry as candidate for next coach - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/images/Thierry%20Henry%20--%20claps%20--%20with%20Barca.jpg

Henry in action for Barcelona, applauding Arsenal fans after Leg 1 of the clubs' UEFA Champions League quarterfinal in 2010. | Action Images - John Sibley Livepic


Even so, it's a flattering link for Henry, who despite being hired at the Impact last November has been at the helm of the club for just nine matches across all competitions heading into next week's season restart. And Montreal marks only Henry's second managerial job, after a brief, stint in charge of Monaco that began in the fall of 2018.


After an eight-year run at Arsenal, Henry finished his European playing career with Barcelona, where he scored 35 La Liga goals and added 15 assists over three seasons before joining the New York Red Bulls in 2010. He won two La Liga titles with Barca, as well as the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League.


He departed the club following the 2009-2010 season to join the New York Red Bulls.