Thierry Henry: Managing Arsenal would be 'a dream come true'

USA: Thierry Henry says that it remains "a dream" of his to manage Arsenal one day.

The Frenchman called time on his illustrious playing career in Tuesday and will take up punditry duties on Sky Sports. But Henry has revealed that he remains keen to go into coaching, with the top job at the Emirates his ultimate goal.

Speaking to the Telegraph , Henry admitted that managing his beloved Gunners "would be a dream come true", but said that he would first have to pay his dues in the coaching world.

“You have to prove yourself first. You need to be able to understand what it is to be a manager," said Henry.

"The plan is to start my badges and I guess Arsenal will help me. To pass your badges, you have to work closely with a club and I would like to think it is going to be Arsenal.

"Everybody knows I would love to go back to Arsenal in some capacity. But I need to be equipped to go back. I want to learn the process, so I have to get my badges."

Henry has never hidden his love for Arsenal, for whom he scored over 200 goals between 1999 and 2007. Last month, he told French sports daily L'Equipe: "When I left the club, part of me died."

"I cried, and I've never cried often, even when I was a kid," said Henry of his move for Barcelona.

Yet the 37-year-old returns to London firstly to focus on television work.

"It is now time for a different career path and I am pleased to say that I will be returning to London and joining Sky Sports," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

"I will hopefully share some of the insights, observations and experiences I have learnt over the years with you guys."