Welsh FA chief executive Jonathan Ford is open to appointing Thierry Henry as the next Wales manager, but won’t hire an Englishman.

Wales are searching for a new manager after Chris Coleman decided to return to club football with Championship side Sunderland. Several people have been linked with the job, including Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

While that seems a strange link on paper, Henry, along with compatriot Marcel Desailly, did their coaching badges through the Welsh FA. And according to the Mirror, the Welsh FA would consider appointing Henry as manager, even if they would prefer a Welshman to take charge.

Martinez Henry
Belgium’s assistant coach Thierry Henry (L) talks to Belgium’s head coach Roberto Martinez during a training session in Tubize on October 3, 2016, ahead of a World Cup 2018 qualification game against Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 7. Picture: BRUNO FAHY/AFP/Getty Images

Their chief executive, Jonathan Ford, has ruled out hiring an Englishman. As for them considering a foreign appointment, Henry doesn’t have a great deal of coaching experience.

He had a brief stint at Arsenal coaching the youth teams, but left the club following a conflict between his coaching and his media work. He’s now the assistant manager to Roberto Martinez at Belgium.

Wales are hoping to have a new manager in place in time for the UEFA Nations League draw on January 24. Having led Wales to the semi-finals of the European Championships, Coleman resigned as manager after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.