Sportsnet soccer commentator Craig Forrest crossed paths with a number of high profile international stars during his playing career in England, including Thierry Henry.
A standout goalkeeper for Canada’s national team, Forrest enjoyed tenures with Ipswich Town, Chelsea and West Ham United at club level before hanging up his boots in 2002.
In light of Henry announcing his retirement on Tuesday, Sportsnet spoke with Forrest to get his take on the Frenchman.
What are your general thoughts on Thierry Henry? What stood out for you about his remarkable career?
Well, he was fantastic. The thing I always remember about Henry was that he had this ability to glide around the field, and look as though he was skating. He was so graceful. It became so very easy to him.
He had terrific touch and vision, and was great at bringing other players into the play—an excellent finisher. He was the total package.
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It was remarkable that he had such great goal-scoring success at Arsenal as a forward after he being used primarily as a winger by AS Monaco and Juventus, wasn’t it?
Yeah, it really was. He didn’t have a great deal of success in Italy. Then he came to England and Arsene Wenger had this vision that he could actually play as a striker. Boy, that did ever work out well. (laughs)
He had his bad moments like the handball against Ireland, but for the most part he was a classy, very likeable player and a terrific professional. Well deserving of his statue outside Arsenal’s stadium.
Was he well thought of by teammates and opponents when he was at Arsenal?
He absolutely was. He had a great reputation. (Former Arsenal defender) Nigel Winterburn joined West Ham, and I asked him about Henry and he said he was a great guy. Ian Wright and Davor Suker said the same thing when I talked to them about their time with Henry. He was well liked and respected—when guys like Winterburn, Wright and Suker have nothing but god things to say about you, you know they’re talking about someone special.
Did you ever play against Henry?
You know what, I think I did, but I’m not 100 percent sure. I know I was definitely involved in games that he was playing in—I was on the bench for West Ham.
So you don’t remember if he ever scored against you?
I don’t believe so. No. Everybody else scored on me during my time in England, especially Manchester United. (laughs)
Still, you would have been pitch-side on the bench when West Ham played Arsenal. What was it like watching Henry play from that vantage point? Did you gain a different appreciation for his game?
You know who Henry reminded me of? Mario Lemieux. Like Lemieux, Henry didn’t waste any energy. He was such an intelligent player, and had a terrific touch and vision that separated him from the rest.
You could tell when he was out there that all the defenders were worried about him, and didn’t want him to get the ball at his feet and didn’t want to give him space.
Certain players are at a different level and a different class. Even in the Premier League against some very god players, Henry was a level above.
Where do you think he ranks among the greatest non-British stars to play in Premier League?
Henry, with the amount of goals he scored, he’s among the best. He’s right up there. Not many were better. Dennis Bergkamp was special. Eric Cantona, too—although I would put Henry above Cantona.
It’s one thing for Alan Shearer and other English guys to succeed in the Premier League because there’s a comfort level—they don’t have to adapt. They have an advantage. For foreign guys, it’s different—you have to adapt to the culture, the language. It’s way more difficult.
You just never know how some guys are going to settle. I did, but I practically grew up in England and I spoke the language. But some guys from France or Italy or other parts of Europe don’t always make the adjustment. And I think that’s what made Henry’s accomplishments in England all the more incredible.
