Football
ESPN 6y

Thierry Henry lined up to replace Steve Bruce at Aston Villa - sources

Thierry Henry has been lined up to replace Steve Bruce as Aston Villa manager, sources close to the club have told ESPN FC.

Henry, who worked as a coach for Belgium as they finished third at the World Cup, recently left his position working as a pundit for Sky so he could concentrate on a career in management.

Villa are set for a "significant investment" from NSWE, a company jointly owned by billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens,

Bruce, who held talks with Sawiris about his future, said he was unsure about his position at the club.

"I made myself clear two weeks ago when I said: 'Look, whatever the state the club is in I think it needs me'," Bruce told the Birmingham Mail.

"The new owners might want to have their own man in. All the indications are that that's not the case but until I get in front of them we won't know.

"I don't think it's important now to talk about myself. The good thing is that we can move forward. I hope they give me the opportunity, I really do, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's not going to be that way because we've seen it many times.

"The new broom always sweeps clean. I hope I'm given the opportunity."

Bruce is on a rolling contract at Villa and has already missed out on promotion to the Premier League with the club twice.

ESPN FC's Peter O'Rourke contributed to this report.

^ Back to Top ^