Thierry Henry looks up to Pep Guardiola for managing Monaco

Former footballer Thierry Henry, who was recently appointed as the manager of Monaco FC, has said that Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is his reference for the managerial role.

Henry has played under Guardiola when the latter was managing the Spanish football club, Barcelona FC.

"Pep is the reference, for me, I'm not saying for everyone. There's no right or wrong; that's the reference for me. We learned how to play the game when I went to Barcelona under him. With Pep you can talk about the game; he will not even go to sleep and will still talk about the game. You will fall asleep and he's still talking," CNN quoted Henry, as saying.

"The invention he had in the game; he's well ahead of the game, I saw it closely. You learn from people. They inspire you. But you also need to put your own little mix in it," he added.

Reflecting on his comeback to Monaca, a club where he had started his professional career, the striker said that it is like a dream coming true. "When the offer came it was quite logical; my heart talked. You know the connection I have with one club in London, but this is where I started. This club will always have a big place in my heart," he said.

"So to be able to come here and start here again is a dream come true, I won't lie. There's a lot of work to do, as you can imagine, but I'm more than happy to be here," he added.

Henry, who made his professional debut with Monaco in 1994 has played for Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona, before making a return almost after two decades.

He had succeeded Leonardo Jardim of Portugal to take up his first ever coaching role.