Joël Henry dies aged 63, gifted but mercurial playmaker | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Joël Henry died on Sunday in La Tremblade, Charente-Maritime, aged 63. One of the 15 youngest top-flight debutants, he started for Lille under José Arribas on 18 August 1978, aged 16 years, three months and 30 days, at Nantes's Marcel-Saupin.

Born in Armentières in April 1962, he quickly impressed at Lille. The club finished sixth in 1979, yet he bided his time in a veteran side and a serious knee injury slowed him. In summer 1980 he joined Bastia on loan.

At 18 he broke through, playing 25 league matches and 10 in the Coupe de France as Bastia lifted the cup. In the final they beat Saint-Étienne 2-1, with Henry the creative spark behind scorers Louis Marcialis and Roger Milla. He hoped for Europe with Bastia, but was recalled by Lille amid rising hype and later admitted he had been stubborn and did not back it up.

In 1983 he signed for Brest, succeeding Drago Vabec as the technical leader. With Bernard Pardo he formed a fondly remembered duo. Supporters recall a gifted but mercurial playmaker, capable of the spectacular and noted for his nightlife off the pitch.

After Brest he spent a season at Nice, then moved to Toulon under Rolland Courbis alongside Pardo, Bernard Casoni, Laurent Paganelli and David Ginola. Durable and consistent, he played 36 league games for Nice and 37 for Toulon.

Nantes recruited him next, rebuilding after Jean-Claude Suaudeau left, under Miroslav Blazevic. In 1991-1992, his final season there, enjoyment returned when Suaudeau came back and Nantes revived. Post-retirement he trained in Limoges, then built successful cleaning firms and settled with his wife in La Tremblade during Covid.

Source: L'Équipe