Monaco Fires Thierry Henry, Re-Hires Leonardo Jardim as Manager
Monaco fired Thierry Henry and re-hired title-winning coach Leonardo Jardim on Friday, just three months after sacking him to make way for the France great.
Henry won four of 20 matches after replacing Jardim in mid-October, leaving the club second from bottom in the French league ahead of Saturday’s trip to fellow struggler Dijon.
After receiving a reported 8 million euros ($9.13 million) in compensation when they parted ways, Jardim is now back at Monaco after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract.
It is proving a costly season for the club on and off the pitch.
The 44-year-old Jardim led Monaco to the league title in 2017, beating defending champion Paris Saint-Germain by eight points, and it reached the Champions League semifinals the same year.
His side played a brand of breathtaking attacking football that thrilled Europe and produced more than 150 goals in all competitions that season.
But after several key players were sold, Monaco slipped behind PSG last season and struggled from the outset in this campaign.
When Jardim was fired, Monaco had not won in 10 games and the side was third from bottom.
Things have not improved under Henry and the club hopes Jardim can inspire the players and avoid relegation for the eight-time French champion.
Monaco is through to the League Cup semifinals and plays at Guingamp on Tuesday.
Jardim will have Henry’s new January recruits at his disposal — notably former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas, Henry’s former Arsenal teammate, has played two games since leaving Chelsea.
