Thierry Henry (EXCLUSIVE): “I Cried Every Single Day”, Dealing With Depression, My Childhood Trauma & Fighting For My Dad’s Love! | The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

Intro

In this episode of “The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett,” Steven sits down with Thierry Henry, the legendary football player, to discuss his childhood, dealing with depression, and the impact of his father’s expectations on his life. Thierry opens up about his personal struggles, the importance of vulnerability, and finding happiness beyond achievements.

Main Takeaways

Childhood and Family

• Thierry Henry reflects on his childhood and the impact of his father’s expectations on his life. Growing up, he sought validation through football, which affected his happiness.
• He shares a moment when he realized his loved ones were crying for him, not the football player, highlighting the importance of understanding a person’s early context to comprehend who they are today.
• Thierry discusses growing up in a diverse environment and the different ways love was expressed in his family. He reflects on his parents’ dream of moving to France and the significance of this decision.

Growing Up in a Challenging Environment

• Thierry Henry talks about the challenges of growing up in a neighborhood with gangs, drugs, fights, and diversity. Despite the hardships, he values the unique experiences and lessons learned from this environment.
• He acknowledges the impact of his older brother who protected and guided him in their small town.
• Inside the walls of his home, there was a lack of love and affection due to his parents’ strained relationship and eventual divorce. This environment made it difficult for Thierry to express emotions and open up.

The Influence of His Father and Football Career

• Thierry Henry reflects on his father’s influence on his football career and his desire to please his father through the sport. He associated his sense of self-worth with his performance on the pitch.
• He describes the pressure and expectations placed on him from a young age, as he was already striving for success at 13 years old. Thierry talks about the intense competition to enter the elite academy, Cleft on 10, where only a small percentage of candidates are selected each year.
• The transition from being an athlete to a regular life is a shock to the system, as athletes are not equipped to live in that world. Thierry discusses the challenges of finding a new routine and adjusting to life after retirement.

Mental Health and Personal Growth

• Thierry Henry shares his struggle with mental health and the pressure of being a man. He emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and empathy in leadership and personal relationships.
• He reflects on the challenges of transitioning from a life of constant travel and being alone to being a homebody and facing personal issues. Thierry discusses the importance of self-awareness and introspection.
• The speaker highlights the necessity of perseverance and resilience, emphasizing the importance of continuing to walk forward in life, even in the face of adversity.

Summary

Childhood and Family

Thierry Henry opens up about his childhood and the impact of his father’s expectations on his life. Growing up, he sought validation through football, which affected his happiness. However, he shares a moment when he realized that his loved ones were crying for him, not the football player. This realization made him understand the importance of understanding a person’s early context to comprehend who they are today. Thierry also reflects on growing up in a diverse environment and the different ways love was expressed in his family. He discusses his parents’ dream of moving to France and the significance of this decision, highlighting the constant fear of making mistakes and not fitting in to avoid being sent back to the Caribbean.

Growing Up in a Challenging Environment

Thierry Henry talks about the challenges of growing up in a neighborhood with gangs, drugs, fights, diversity, and different religions. Despite the hardships, he values the unique experiences and lessons learned from this environment. He acknowledges the impact of his older brother who protected and guided him in their small town. Inside the walls of his home, there was a lack of love and affection due to his parents’ strained relationship and eventual divorce. This environment made it difficult for Thierry to express emotions and open up, as toughness and not showing vulnerability were emphasized.

The Influence of His Father and Football Career

Thierry Henry reflects on his father’s influence on his football career and his desire to please his father through the sport. He associated his sense of self-worth with his performance on the pitch, which led to intense pressure and expectations from a young age. Thierry describes the competition to enter the elite academy, Cleft on 10, where only a small percentage of candidates are selected each year. He also discusses the challenges of transitioning from being an athlete to a regular life, highlighting the shock to the system and the need to find a new routine and adjust to life after retirement.

Mental Health and Personal Growth

Thierry Henry opens up about his struggle with mental health and the pressure of being a man. He emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and empathy in leadership and personal relationships. The transition from a life of constant travel and being alone to being a homebody and facing personal issues was challenging for Thierry. He reflects on the importance of self-awareness and introspection, highlighting the necessity of perseverance and resilience in moving forward in life. Thierry also discusses the impact of his children on his personal growth, as they reeducate him and teach him to be a better dad.

Conclusion

In this episode, Thierry Henry shares his personal journey, highlighting the impact of his childhood, the influence of his father, and the challenges of transitioning from a football career to a regular life. He emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, empathy, and personal growth. Thierry’s story serves as a reminder that success and achievements do not guarantee happiness and fulfillment, and that true fulfillment comes from embracing vulnerability and connecting with others on a deeper level.