Thierry Henry has stepped down as France under-21 coach after winning an Olympic silver medal in Paris this month. The 47-year-old was contracted until next summer but has opted to leave his position after a year in the job. “Winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games for my country will remain one of the greatest prides of my life,” said Henry, whose side lost the Paris 2024 final against Spain. “I am incredibly grateful to the federation, the players, the staff and the supporters who allowed me to live a magical experience.” Before his appointment by France, Henry had worked as assistant coach of Belgium, with jobs as a No 1 at Monaco and the Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact. Philippe Diallo, the French Football Federation president, said: “On behalf of the FFF, I would like to thank Thierry Henry for all the work he has accomplished as the head of the under-21 and Olympic teams. “We obviously regret this decision because Thierry was able to achieve the objectives that had been set for him by winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, 40 years after the Olympic medal in Los Angeles. “Having followed him throughout this campaign, I was able to discover his great professionalism, his rigour and his love of the blue jersey. We wish him good luck for the rest of his career.”