Thierry Henry, the former French professional football player, is known for his impressive achievements on the pitch, including winning the World Cup and multiple league titles with various teams. However, behind the success lies a childhood filled with difficulties that shaped Henry’s personality and influenced his approach to life. In this article, we will explore Henry’s childhood ‘jail sentence’, his struggles with suspicion and secrecy, and how they have affected his life and career.
Growing up in Les Ulis, a suburb in the North of France, Henry was exposed to many evils that surrounded him. His parents, Mr. Antoine and Mrs. Maryse, tried their best to protect him from the dangers of the environment. However, when his father had to be away from home for a while, and his brother Willy joined the army, only Henry and his mother remained in the house. Mrs. Maryse, busy making money, was afraid that her son would have bad friends. She gritted her teeth and locked Henry up alone in the house.
“It was one of the worst times for a 9-year-old. I’ve been imprisoned since that year,” Henry confided. “I couldn’t understand it. Why can my friends play in the street, but I have to watch them play through the window. I questioned my mother vehemently, but to no avail. She beat me and locked me in the room. Time went by so heavily. I almost went crazy with sadness and envy with my friends who kept calling my name out loud at 2am. And then the loneliness gradually turned me into a closed person. My mother told me not to talk to strangers.”
Despite the difficulties, Henry remained resilient and focused on his passion for football. His father was the one who taught him all about the sport, but his mother gave him the life he has today. Until now, Henry sometimes mentions the sweet ‘jail sentence’ that year to forever remember the gratitude of his mother. However, the experience also left many negative effects, the most evident being Henry’s fearsome secrecy from the world around him.
When he first came to Barcelona, Henry was stressed for a long time because he had to be away from his 2-year-old daughter, Tea Henry. Henry’s problem was so serious that coach Rijkaard had to ask him to see a psychologist. But the psychiatrist who treated Henry at that time also gave up because the French striker was too sensitive and suspicious of everyone.
Henry has a famous saying, which basically outlines his psychological depth: “They don’t deserve my openness, and they really don’t want to know my problems.” It is also because of his sensitivity and skepticism of people that Henry has few friends. He is not depressed, but Titi chooses according to the audience to open up about the problems of his life. Henry confided that he liked the time at home alone and let himself be in his own way. “I like being alone because it reminds me of my childhood. Of course, I also have some fun with friends, but my life doesn’t often experience moments like that.”
Despite his complicated personality, Henry is not trying to appear mysterious or closed. He likes parties with friends, but it has to be at his house or someone else’s because he wants the party to take place properly, and at least his woman must see what he’s doing with his friends. Few people know that, on the day France won the 1998 World Cup, while his teammates celebrated all week in his hometown, Henry alone went to Guadeloupe – his mother’s hometown. Here, Henry wears shorts, goes barefoot and rides a motorbike around the city. “That’s heaven. I only feel life when I do what
