Thierry Henry Retiring? New York Red Bulls Striker Announces Leave

It's may be end of the road for New York Red Bulls captain Thierry Henry, who announced his departure from the team.

The news came out as a shock when the Red Bulls said that they are already thanking Henry for his "incredible impact" on the team and also the entire American soccer community.

"He is truly one of the all-time great talents and will forever hold a special place within the organization's history. We wish Thierry all the best for his future," said team general manager Marc de Grandpre in an article by Empire of Soccer.

For his part, sporting director for the team Andy Roxburgh said that Henry has already become an icon of the game with him being a "wonderful player" for the team and a great influence in the sport. "It has been a privilege to have watched Thierry's illustrious career unfold since he was 17 years old, and it has been a particular joy to watch him, at close quarters, lead the New York Red Bulls over the last two seasons. We sincerely wish him all the best for his future."

The departure of the Red Bulls' captain, according to the New York Times, could not necessarily mean that he is already retiring as a player.

"The announcement had been expected for months; Henry's contract with M.L.S. expires after this season, and he had signaled no intention to seek a new one with the league. His statement was notable, however, in that he did not announce his retirement as a player," the New York Times added.

In a post on his official Facebook page, Henry confirmed the decision and expressed his gratitude for his fans and for his team for their unending support.

"I am taking this opportunity to announce that unfortunately Saturday was my last game for the New York Red Bulls. The decision has always been that I would leave after the duration of my contract and although that was never going to change, I didn't want it to distract from the progress of the team," the post read.

He said that he enjoyed four and a half years of his stay with the team and mentioned significant people who needed to be recognized. "Thanks must go particularly to Erik Soler, Hans Backe, Gerard Houllier, Andy Roxburgh, Mike Petke, all my team mates, the technical staff, medical staff, all the personnel who work for the Red Bull organization, the MLS and of course the owner Mr Mateschitz whose vision and passion brought me to this wonderful city."

"I will now take the next few weeks to reflect and decide on the next chapter of my career." This is considered an open-ended statement by the fans and the media who are speculating that Henry might still decide to play later on.