ARSENAL and France legend Thierry Henry is aiming to move into management after learning ‘the Welsh Way’ in Newport.

Henry, who ended his prodigiously successful playing career at New York Red Bulls last year, is keen to follow in the footsteps of Premier League managers Roberto Martinez, Garry Monk and Tim Sherwood.

All three learned their trade via the Football Association of Wales’ coach education programme at Newport’s Dragon Park – the home of Welsh football and the base for the Welsh Football Trust.

Henry attended the FAW National Coaches Conference at Celtic Manor over the weekend along with former Arsenal teammate Patrick Vieira – who is on the shortlist to take over at Newcastle.

And the 37-year-old, who will return to Newport later this month to study for his UEFA A Licence, says there is nowhere better than Wales for him to be as he plots a move from the Sky Sports TV studios to the touchline.

“I don’t have the pretention of knowing the game from that side of the line. I want to learn from others and take advice from people like Garry Monk,” said Henry, who is a big fan of FAW technical director Osian Roberts.

“I had heard about this course from Patrick (Vieira) and Jens Lehmann and the way the Welsh FA see the game.

“The way they are doing things, with their identity and the philosophy, is how I see the game. Therefore it was the perfect match.

“I could have had an easier path with the French FA but I spoke to Osian Roberts and we had the same view on a lot of topics and I knew this was the right place."

Joining Henry and Vieira in Wales over the weekend were ex-Arsenal teammates Sol Campbell and Freddie Ljungberg and ex-Spurs stars David Ginola and Les Ferdinand – all buying into the Welsh Way, according to Henry.

“It is vital to have this type of facilities in order to be successful but the most important thing is having the right coaches in place,” said Henry.

“They have a certain way, they call it the Welsh Way, and I think that is why people are buying into it –because they see the success that you are having.

“The national team is about to go to France, hopefully they will. They won the Victory Shield, the under-17 and under-19 teams qualified for the European Championships.

“It is because of that Welsh way, because of sticking with it and believing in that identity and that strategy.

“Yes, you need good facilities – that is very important. But you need to have a plan.

“They have a plan and they are executing it very well at the moment.”