Seventh time lucky: Monaco wins first game under head coach Thierry Henry

It took a while, but Thierry Henry has finally watched Monaco win its first game of his tenure as the team’s head coach.

Henry landed the Monaco job because the team had slumped to 18th in the Ligue 1 table and was in need of some fresh ideas. Since taking his first head-coaching assignment, he has guided the club to...19th in the table.

But the November 24 win over Caen at least ensures Monaco won’t lose further ground to its rivals in what looks set to be a relegation dogfight for the club this season. Caen - currently 17th in Ligue 1 - would have pulled eight points clear of Monaco with a win, but Radamel Falcao gave Henry’s struggling Monegasques the lead in the 54th minute, and the team held on for its first win in all competitions since its first league game of the season on August 11.

The win came at the seventh attempt for Henry, who had seen Monaco to four losses and two draws in its six preceding games under his management. Those results included a draw and a loss to Club Brugge in Champions League - ensuring Monaco will not be progressing beyond the Group Stage of that competition this season.

Next up for Henry and Monaco is Atletico Madrid in Champions League. The team will then return to the urgent task of climbing out of the Ligue 1 basement - and away from the threat of relegation with a home game against Montpellier on December 1.