In connection with the “Alexis Beka Beka” episode that occurred a few days ago, Thierry Henry gave his opinion on the management of players’ mental health.
It’s clearly a subject that was close to his heart. At the time of the question asked to him this Monday by a journalist, during the press conference preceding the two qualifying matches for Euro 2025 that his Espoirs will play against Bosnia-Herzegovina (October 13) and Cyprus ( on the 17th), Thierry Henry did not hide it. “ I really like this question because it’s something really important. ” His subject ? Mental health among football players, and more particularly among young people.
The Bleuets coach then developed his response. “ We’re talking about young people, of course, but I think we all have our problems. We’re here, you do your job, I do mine, everyone thinks it’s okay, no matter the social level, we all have problems. Sometimes you have difficulty digesting them, sometimes you hide them, you show a little confidence when that is not really the case and from time to time, the brain has enormous power over the human being. This is not obvious.“
“You are ashamed even though it is not a shame”
For Thierry Henry, there is still something better for the new generations. “ It’s true that now it’s not too taboo to say that I’m afraid. It’s no longer too taboo to say ‘I’m not feeling well, I think I shouldn’t play because mentally I’m not feeling well, I should take a little break’. It’s true that in my time, if you said to someone ‘I’m scared’… It didn’t go down very well. And if you show vulnerability and in front of you you don’t find empathy, you shut yourself away, you don’t talk about it, you don’t know where to go, you’re ashamed when it’s not a shame, but it’s the first instinct you have.“
And Thierry Henry continues by taking an example. “ It’s like when you cry. The first thing we say is ‘excuse me’. But it’s an emotion. Why do you apologize if you cry. You’re going to hide or you’re either going to apologize because you’re ashamed. Today we are in a situation where it needs to be better managed. For players or high-level athletes who are ending their career. And it’s not just football that suffers from this. Whatever the sport and level. (…) When I saw this scene on the bridge (reference to Alexis Beka Beka, editor’s note), it made me think about my problems. We hide them, we mask them, but sometimes some people get through it. We need openings, doors, understanding so that people can express themselves. » This speech will surely do good to certain young people who wish to open up about their difficulties.
