Football
Thierry Henry: I’ve been depressed my whole career
He had to lie for a long time, reality wasn’t ready for the story of Arsenal’s all-time top scorer. Thierry Henry has performed brilliantly on the turf throughout his career, but off the pitch he has experienced depression. “I was programmed,” Henry said. And despite all he had accomplished, he still wanted to please his father.
He had to lie for a long time, reality wasn’t ready for the story of Arsenal’s all-time top scorer. Throughout his career, Thierry Henry has performed brilliantly on the turf, but off the pitch he has experienced depression. “I was programmed,” Henry said. And despite all he had accomplished, he still wanted to please his father.
Thierry Henry: A career fueled by depression
Henry was the driving force behind the team nicknamed “The Invincibles.” But the French cannonballer was not one of the players to celebrate. After winning the title in the 2003/04 season, he refused to celebrate, saying, ” I have to concentrate on the upcoming EURO,” in an interview with Steven Bartlett.
In the nearly two-hour chat, Henry was very candid. He opened up the subject of family, which played a major role in his story. Especially his father. “He first caught me and said I was going to be a great footballer,” Henry began.
His parents divorced, so he grew up with his mother. But his father never missed a practice or a game. Once Henry and his team won 6-0 and he scored all the goals. You’d say, ” Wow! “
But on the way home, Thierry knew his father wasn’t happy with his performance.
“I didn’t know my childhood, I cried every day,” continued the Champions League winner. From the start, he was programmed to become a professional footballer. Even after winning the Premier League top scorer award and all the titles and trophies, Henry still lived with the knowledge that he had to please his father.
“A sportsman has to love pain,” Henry stressed. For ten years he was plagued by achilles, on both feet. And how did he come to believe it was time for him to leave the world of professional football? One day he was sitting on the sofa at home and his daughter came running up, touched him and said, ” You’ve got a girl.”
What next?
She started to run, and Henry wanted to run after her. But he couldn’t, he couldn’t move. And that was a clear warning to the 1998 world champion. The transition to normal life was hard for him. Difficult. He wasn’t used to living like a “normal person”.
“I’m not perfect, but now my goal is to be the best father I can be,” the all-time top scorer for London Arsenal said at the end of the interview.
Source: YouTube, Steven Barlett
