The Red Bulls now boast the most dangerous scoring duo in all of Major League Soccer.
In what had to be the worst kept secret of the season, the Red Bulls announced Wednesday that they had signed French international forward Thierry Henry to a multi-year contract as their second designated player.
Henry, who recently competed for France at the World Cup in South Africa, will team with Red Bulls captain Juan Pablo Angel, whose nine goals is good for second in the league to L.A. Galaxy forward Edson Buddle. Angel is the team’s first designated player.
The second-place Red Bulls (8-5-2, 26 points), who trail the Columbus Crew (8-2-4, 28) in the Eastern Conference, are still searching for a creative playmaking midfielder who can get the ball to the forwards.
Henry, who turns 33 on Aug. 17, is a member of the 1998 World Cup championship team, European Championship and UEFA Champions League winner. He awaiting his International Transfer Certificate when the summer international transfer window opens Thursday.
He will be introduced at a press conference at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. at 1:15 p.m. Thursday.
Henry is expected to debut for the Red Bulls against Tottenham (England) at the Barclays New York Challenge at Red Bull Arena July 22.
Like it or not, Henry most recently is best known for a handball that he was not called for during a World Cup qualifying playoff match against Ireland. The play led to France’s lone goal in a 1-1 tie, clinching a spot in the World Cup. The French team played horribly in South Africa, incurring many internal problems, which included a players strike over practicing one day. The French finished at 0-2-1, scoring but once.
Henry was relegated to the bench, playing only 53 minutes over two matches as a substitute.
Still, the Red Bulls have welcomed Henry with open arms.
“I think it means everything for the industry in this country,” Angel said. “He’s arguably one of the best players in our generation. He’s a player that has won everything he could possibly win in this sport and he’s still fit.
“It’s an honor to have him here. He’s going to be a tremendous addition to the league, to the Red Bulls. It keeps showing how much effort this company is putting in for this sport in the country. Hopefully, he’ll feel very welcome everywhere he goes as the majority of players with a good name and good reputation that have come here have been feeling. . . I’m sure he’ll be happy to be here and will be a phenomenal addition for this league.”
Dietmar Beiersdorfer, head of Red Bull Global Soccer, said in a statement that “It is without question that Thierry Henry is one of the most successful and recognizable soccer names in the past 15 years. We are thrilled that Thierry has decided to come to New York to help the Red Bulls compete for championships this year and for years to come. His international pedigree is second to none and he is a proven winner.”
Henry has said on several occasions that he wanted to live and play soccer in New York.
“This marks an exciting new chapter in my career and life,” he said in a statement. “It is an honor to play for the New York Red Bulls. I am fully aware of the team’s history and my sole goal during my time here is to help win the club its first championship. Knowing Red Bull’s significant commitment to soccer locally and internationally, I am confident that my teammates and I will succeed.”
Henry will become the second member of the France ’98 team to play for the organization. Youri Djorkaeff performed for the club from 2005-2006.
Red Bulls central defender Tim Ream realized the new dynamic duo up front with be difficult to stop.
“It’s kind of wild to think about it,” he said. “Coming in, I knew I was going to be playing with Juan Pablo and I knew what kind of player he was. You put those two together it’s pretty incredible. Front two; there is not much you can say about them. They are just spectacular players.”
Midfielder Seth Stammler felt Henry will face a transition from Barcelona, which captured the 2009 UEFA Champions League crown, to MLS.
“He’ll have a little getting used to the type of play that is in the MLS,” he said. “It’s physical and fast. But obviously he’s a guy that has been around the block. I think he can easily adapt to the style of play. I think within a few practices and a game or two he will be fully enveloped in the team and won’t miss a beat. He will contribute a great deal to what we are doing.”
