Thierry Henry Linked with Monaco Job Amid Leonardo Jardim Exit Rumours

Thierry Henry is reportedly one of three candidates lined up to replace Leonardo Jardim as manager of AS Monaco. Jardim is expected to agree to the mutual dissolution of his contract with the Ligue 1 side, per French publication Nice-Matin (h/t Get French Football News):

Former Arsenal striker Henry, who began his career at Monaco, has also been linked with taking over at Championship club Aston Villa, per Sky Sports News.

Henry is in the frame for the Villa job along with ex-Chelsea centre-back John Terry. However, the former's links to a return to Monaco appear stronger.

ESPN FC's Julien Laurens has reported Henry "is set to accept the challenge of resurrecting Monaco's season after holding talks and rejecting the offer from Villa."

Laurens also noted how there are "just a few details to be ironed" before Henry is given the job.

It will represent a major challenge for Henry should he be appointed. The 41-year-old, who retired as Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer, has never been a manager before, but he has been gaining experience on the staff of Roberto Martinez with the Belgium national team.

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Henry does know Monaco well, having come through the youth ranks on the watch of first Arsene Wenger, who later signed the striker for the Gunners in 1999, then Wenger's successor Jean Tigana.

Today, Monaco are floundering in the bottom three of Ligue 1. The club has also lost its first two matches in Group A of the UEFA Champions League.

Form this bad is a far cry from Jardim's early stint. He guided Monaco to a Champions League quarter-final in 2015, beating Arsenal along the way. Two years later an exciting, expansive team took the French top-flight title ahead of mega-rich Paris Saint-Germain.

Monaco also reached the last four of the Champions League where they were beaten by eventual runners-up Juventus.

Players such as Manchester United forward Anthony Martial and Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe became stars on Jardim's watch.

Jeremy Smith of French Football Weekly believes Jardim has performed well despite losing key players every summer:

"

Jardim has proven adept at coaching defensive and offensive football, at bringing through a string of talented youngsters, of getting the best out of more experienced players. Has qualified for CL every season, won the title vs PSG and reached the CL semi-final.

— Jeremy Smith (@jeremysmith98) October 9, 2018"

Jardim, who also produced solid work at Sporting Lisbon, will no doubt be touted for jobs across Europe. The bigger question will be whether Henry can make the jump from relative coaching novice to a manager able to revive a club with lofty expectations both in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

Monaco will be taking a risk if they turn to Henry, but the club has rewarded for a daring approach before.