29 reasons why we love Thierry Henry (and one reason why we don't)

16 December 2014 10:31

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry – striker extraordinaire and killer of Irish dreams – has called it a day.

So here, we salute King Henry for all that he was and is.

1. Because he has impeccable taste in headwear

Thierry Henry with the European Cup on his head
(Mike Egerton/EMPICS)

2. Because he made Phil Neville look silly

Arsenal's Thierry Henry flies past Phil Neville of Manchester United
(Sean Dempsey/PA)

3. Because he made life simple…

4. …but he had a taste for the spectacular

Thierry Henry of Arsenal attempts an overhead kick against Blackpool
(Adam Davy/EMPICS)

5. Because he made us love football

6. Because he stood up to John Terry…

Thierry Henry of Arsenal squares up to Chelsea's John Terry
(Rui Vieira/PA)

7. …and towered over Ashley Cole

Thierry Henry and Ashley Cole playing for Arsenal
(Nick Potts/PA)

8. Because he was invincible

9. Because he’s suave…

Thierry Henry wearing a suit
(Tony Marshall/EMPICS)

10. …but even he didn’t look cool all the time…

Thierry Henry receiving a Player of the Month Award
(PA)

11. …especially not in a string vest…

Thierry Henry gives a thumbs-up during his Barcelona medical
(AP)

12. …although this vest was a different matter

Arsenal player Thierry Henry celebrates
(Rebecca Naden/PA)

13. Because of these stats

14. Because nobody put him in the corner

Thierry Henry celebrates with the corner flag
(Mike Egerton/EMPICS)

15. Because he did his bit for charity

Thierry Henry and fellow Arsenal players doing a charity stunt with Esther Rantzen
(PA)

16. Because he was the king

17. Because he loved the fans…

Thierry Henry celebrates with the Arsenal fans
(Jon Buckle/EMPICS)

18. …and the fans loved him

Thierry Henry celebrates with the Arsenal fans
(Neal Simpson/EMPICS)

19. Because of this

20. Because of his partnership with Dennis Bergkamp

Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp playing for Arsenal
(Nick Potts/EMPICS)

21. Because he has seal skills

Thierry Henry upon signing for Barcelona
(Manu Fernandez/AP)

22. Because he scored his best goals against the best teams

23. Because he’s a kung fu master

Thierry Henry of Arsenal doing a high kick
(Chris Young/PA)

24. Because he’s one of the guys

Arsenal's Thierry Henry joins in the celebration of Fredrik Ljungberg's Goal with Dennis Bergkamp against Lokomotiv Moscow
(Nigel French/EMPICS)

25. Because he was at home with the greatest

Pele and Thierry Henry
(Stefan Rousseau/PA)

26. Because he was the best

27. Because he was a champion of England

Arsenal players Fredrik Ljunberg and Thierry henry celebrate with the Premier League trophy
(Sean Dempsey/PA)

28. Because he was a champion of Europe

France players Thierry Henry and Marcel Desailly celebrate winning the European Championship
(Mike Egerton/EMPICS)

29. Because he was a champion of the world

France's Lilian Thuram and Thierry Henry hold the World Cup trophy
(Panoramic/PA)

But however good you were, Thierry, we haven’t forgotten this…

Source: PA