If Roberto Martinez himself is to be believed, then Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium got a little bit ahead of themselves this morning.
The Belgian newspaper claimed that Aston Villa majority shareholders had already contacted Thierry Henry’s agent about potentially replacing Steve Bruce at Villa Park after the former Manchester United defender was sacked on Wednesday.
The Villains’ chairman apparently ‘would like to get’ the ex-France international, but the Royal Belgian Football Association were quoted as saying they hadn’t ‘heard anything yet’.
Echoing his employers during a press conference on Friday during which he announced his Belgium squad for the upcoming international break, Roberto Martinez said, relayed by RTL: “For now, there have not been any contacts, but I think there will always be interest because of what Thierry Henry does for us.”
Currently an assistant with the national team, the former forward has yet to fully manage a team, and, as we’ve previously said, Aston Villa hiring him to sort things out midway through the season could be a tough ask for a first job.
If a veteran manager like Steve Bruce wasn’t able to get the Villains back to the Premier League, who’s to say Henry will?
Then again, who’s to say he won’t until he’s given a shot?
