Thierry Henry lavishes praise on Michael Olise

Thierry Henry has given Michael Olise a strong endorsement, describing the France international as an exceptional player and person. Henry knows Olise from his time coaching France’s Espoirs and the team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and said the winger’s progress has come as no surprise.

Speaking on Rothen s’enflamme, Henry highlighted qualities that extend beyond Olise’s attacking ability. He pointed to the player’s defensive effort, including his willingness to run extensively and win possession, while also stressing that Olise consistently puts the team ahead of himself.

Henry said he had followed Olise since his spells at Reading and Crystal Palace. He also backed the Bayern Munich player’s standing among the game’s elite, noting that Olise had named Harry Kane when asked about the Ballon d’Or and suggesting that he could himself rank highly in the award discussion.

The former France youth coach also addressed Olise’s reserved manner with journalists. Henry said the player’s calm or seemingly provocative responses are not deliberate, but reflect a shy and introverted personality and his discomfort with media duties in the mixed zone. Henry added that he could speak about his former player for hours.