Merse’s British boss rant II: ‘What about Thierry Henry?’

Matt Stead

Paul Merson has embarked on another rant over the lack of chances afforded to British bosses – before saying Hull should have appointed Thierry Henry.

Merson made headlines over the weekend by hitting out at Hull City over their appointment of Marco Silva as Mike Phelan’s replacement.

The Sky Sports pundit was angered at British bosses being overlooked for the role, and his words were so silly we had to do a Mediawatch special.

Johnny Nic was even moved to question the logic behind Merson’s thoughts, but the 48-year-old defended his views on Monday morning.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Arsenal midfielder said: “I’m not having it. You can give me stick on that. There’s enough British managers out there, come on.

“These people, these players, these English people, they go out, they do these badges. They take time, they cost money. You’ve got managers all over the country putting in a shift, starting at the bottom, and then you bring in managers we don’t know.”

Merson then directly discussed Silva’s appointment at Hull, and suggested an alternative for the role.

“He’s won the league at Olympiakos. I’d win the league at Olympiakos,” he said.

“I got a text off Tony [Adams] as it goes, a nice text about what I said.

“Off the top of my head: Why not Thierry Henry? He’s done his badges, he’s a legend in the game, he’s ripped up the Premier League. If he walked into Hull City he’d give them a lift.

“I think there’s enough managers. You know, Gary Rowett, why not him?”

That will be Thierry Henry, French person. French. France. Not English.

Merson, sacked from his only managerial post at Walsall in 2006 after overseeing their relegation, continued: “I ain’t doing badges. What’s the point in doing badges. You’ll get a job in League Two, if you’re lucky.”