FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018, file photo, AS Monaco head coach Thierry Henry answers questions during his official media presentation in Monaco. Henry is returning to Major League Soccer to coach Montreal Impact. Montreal says in a statement the former France and Arsenal great signed a two-year contract. (AP Photo/Olivier Anrigo, File)
The Associated Press
MONTREAL (AP) - Thierry Henry is returning to Major League Soccer, and to a head coach job, with Montreal Impact.
Montreal said in a statement on Thursday the France and Arsenal great signed a two-year contract.
The 42-year-old Henry moves to Canada after a difficult three-month stint coaching his first professional club Monaco ended in January.
Henry also coached the forwards in top-ranked Belgium's national team as it reached the 2018 World Cup semifinals.
His playing career ended in a four-year spell with New York Red Bulls.
'œIt's a league I know well, in which I had some very nice moments,'ť Henry said in a club statement. 'œTo be in Quebec, in Montreal, which has an enormous multicultural heritage, it's extraordinary.'ť
Henry will lead the team in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League as winners of the Canadian title in September.
The roster he inherits includes his former teammate at Barcelona a decade ago, Bojan Krkić.
Montreal placed ninth in the MLS Eastern Conference under coaches Rémi Garde - another former Arsenal protege of coach Arsène Wenger - and Wilmer Cabrera.
___
More AP soccer https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
FILE - In this Tuesday, July 10, 2018 file photo, Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry consoles Eden Hazard at the end of the semifinal match between France and Belgium at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg Stadium, in St. Petersburg, Russia. France won 1-0. Henry is returning to the MLS to coach Montreal Impact, it was reported on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. Montreal says in a statement the former France and Arsenal great signed a two-year contract. His previous coaching job ended after three months at Monaco. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2018, file photo, Monaco coach Thierry Henry watches his players before the Group A Champions League soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Monaco at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. Henry is returning to Major League Soccer to coach Montreal Impact. Montreal says in a statement the former France and Arsenal great signed a two-year contract. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
The Associated Press