Report: Belgium getting Thierry Henry for less than Mike Grella costs New York Red Bulls

Citing sources within the Royal Belgian Football Association, Christophe Franken reports for DH.net that the Belgians have got Thierry Henry at a bargain rate: less than $115,000 per year. For New York Red Bulls' fans: that is less than Mike Grella is thought to cost RBNY at the moment. Grella is, of course, a more experienced player than Henry is a coach - but $115,000 probably doesn't get you much of Henry's time and attention for anything under normal circumstances.

The report notes Henry's relatively modest salary requirements are doubtless helped by the fact he can keep his multi-million dollar contract with Sky Sports while working as an assistant coach to the Belgium men's national team.

The report also asserts that it was indeed Ralf Rangnick who put Henry on Belgium's radar. The driving force behind Red Bull Global Soccer's current tactical identity, Rangnick was reported to have been considered for the Belgium head coach job, and his proposal included Henry as his assistant.

When Rangnick's application was ultimately deemed "unworkable", Henry approached the Belgian soccer authorities himself to say he was still interested in a position. Roberto Martinez, the man selected to guide Belgium's 2018 World Cup campaign, was then asked to consider Henry - and the rest is history.