Thierry Henry confirmed for Robert Pires jubilee

Thierry Henry will take part in Robert Pires’ jubilee at FC Metz, adding another major name to the celebration of the former France international’s career. The event is scheduled for 6 October at Metz’s Saint-Symphorien stadium.

Henry and Pires were teammates with France and at Arsenal, where they shared the pitch between 2000 and 2006. They were both members of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning generation. Pires, now 52, ended his playing career in 2014 after a final spell in Goa, India, and is now being honoured with a testimonial-style gala.

The two former internationals will play for Arsenal Legends alongside Samir Nasri, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Sylvain Wiltord, Kolo Toure and Lukas Podolski. Pires All Stars and FC Metz Legends will complete the participating teams. The wider line-up includes Franck Ribery, Miralem Pjanic, Emmanuel Adebayor, Mamadou Niang, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Laurent Blanc, Marcel Desailly, Youri Djorkaeff, Bixente Lizarazu and Lilian Thuram. Arsene Wenger and Aime Jacquet are set to coach the teams.

Henry has been without a coaching role since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he led France’s under-23 side to silver. He has since returned to television work with CBS Sports, while Pires works as a Canal+ consultant. Canal+ will broadcast the gala.