Henry named as Belgium assistant coach

Past Arsenal, Barcelona and France striker Thierry Henry has been named as a assistant coach of Belgium senior football team.

He joins the preparation team of Roberto Martinez, who supplanted Marc Wilmots toward the start of August.

“Thierry is an imperative figure,” said past Everton chief Martinez. “He will bring an option that is other than what’s normal. He agreed quickly to oblige us.”

Henry, 39, tweeted: “Respected to be correct hand coach, incredibly invigorated, can barely wait.”

Henry will work close by Graeme Jones, who gave Martinez at Swansea, Wigan and Everton.

Martinez similarly named his first senior squad on Friday, before their enticing against Spain on Thursday 1 September.

The Spaniard accepted control from Wilmots, who was sacked after Belgium were beaten 3-1 by Wales in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.