Thierry Henry features in episode 17 of Sky Sports' My Icon series
Sunday 15 October 2017 20:31, UK
Thierry Henry hopes his success on and off the field can continue to inspire young people across the world.
The Frenchman won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championships in 2000, and is his country's all-time leading scorer with 51 goals in 123 international appearances.
He has also scored more goals than any other player in Arsenal's history, winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his eight-year stint with the Gunners before departing for Barcelona in 2007.
Now assistant manager at Belgium and a respected television pundit, Henry understands the impact his visibility has on young people of all races.
In the latest episode of Sky Sports' My Icon series, Henry says: "If you can see that there is a possibility for everyone equally, that is very important - whether you want to be on TV, a singer or an actor, a politician or whatever you want to be.
"It is important that you know that you can. It is very important to dream and to see that you have multiple choices of succeeding not only one.
"I think it's important when you're young, wherever you're from, whatever your origins are, whatever you believe in, that there is a possibility for you to do whatever you want if you work hard and want to succeed."
Raised in the tough Les Ulis suburb of Paris, where Patrice Evra and Anthony Martial also grew up, Henry played club football in five different countries during his trophy-laden career.
But moving away from Les Ulis, and later making the transition to life abroad was far from easy, Henry admits.
"Being flexible was very important, and understanding that when you arrive somewhere you have to adapt," he says.
"When you arrive in another country it is so difficult. People do not understand, but first and foremost you have to adapt.
"You have to make that first step on so many levels, you know, being able to come to England, understand the culture, speak the language.
"When I first arrive in a dressing room, for example, and I see a guy who is French, who do you think I am going to talk to first or have more understanding with?
"Of course you're going to speak French to the French guy. I always felt awkward to speak to, for example, Robert Pires in English. I'd look at him and be like 'we sound stupid man let's speak French'!
"I didn't want to disrespect anyone but you need to have the right balance."
Henry talks about his journey in the latest instalment of My Icon, which premieres on Monday at 7am on Sky Sports Mix and is available On Demand. The episode is repeated on Monday at 1pm, 6pm and 10pm.
Coinciding with Black History Month, Sky Sports' #MyIcon campaign brings you 31 exclusive interviews with top BAME sports personalities across the month of October. For more information click here.
