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Football London
Football London
Sport
Aaron Catterson-Reid

Arsenal icon Thierry Henry in talks for Premier League return as Everton eye Benitez replacement

Everton are in talks with the Belgian FA for their manager Roberto Martinez and assistant Thierry Henry, according to recent reports.

The Toffees finally decided to sack Rafa Benitez on Sunday afternoon after a run of games that saw them win just once in their last 13 Premier League outings.

Now, according to The Mirror, the Merseyside club are keen to bring Martinez back to Goodison Park, five-and-a-half years after relieving him of his managerial duties back in the summer of 2016.

The report also claims that Everton are hoping to agree a deal with the Belgian FA that will see Martinez arrive before their clash against Aston Villa this weekend, with Arsenal legend Henry also joining his coaching staff.

Henry spent two years as part of Belgium's coaching set-up before trying his hand as a manager with Monaco in 2018, however, his time with the Ligue 1 outfit was short-lived and he was sacked after just 20 games in charge.

The Frenchman then spent a year and a half with MLS side Monreal Impact before leaving last year to be closer to his children in London.

The Gunners legend then re-joined Martinez at the Red Devils but he has also admitted that he would one day love to coach the north Londoners.

"Listen, if you ask an Arsenal fan if they’d like to coach Arsenal one day, they’ll say yes," he told FourFourTwo back in March of last year.

"If you ask an Arsenal fan if they’d like to score a goal for Arsenal, they’ll say yes.

"When I speak about it, it’s a utopia. People get carried away whenever I say that it’s my club, but I have it in my blood – I’m an Arsenal fan.

"So if you’re asking me if one day I’d like to coach Arsenal, then yes. If you ask if one day I’d like to be Arsenal’s kit man, then yes. If you ask if one day I’d like to cut the grass at the Emirates Stadium, then yes.

"But it’s a utopia, and I am far from that. If you ask me am I dreaming, yes I’m dreaming. But when you’re not dreaming, you’re awake and there is a reality.

"Would I love to coach Arsenal? Yes. Would I love to go to Barcelona? Yes. Would I like to play for Arsenal again? I’d love to play for them again, but the reality is I can’t!"

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