Utah Royals FC couldn't be more excited to welcome Amandine Henry to the Wasatch Front. The iconic French midfielder is coming from Angel City FC where she spent the 2023 season. With four appearances this season, Henry can make an immediate impact with the Royals squad.
1. Playing like a Girl
Amandine was born in Lille, France, picking up football just as soon as she could walk. Naturally, five-year-old Amandine looked around her local area to join a team, but no such teams existed yet for girls her age. So, rather than play at a lower level, travel outside her city or just give up altogether, Amandine played with the boys instead - competing in boys teams until the age of 13. She credits this time in her development with building her physical style of play and toughness.
2. Oh Captain, My Captain
Amandine has a long and illustrious international resume, highlighted by her service as captain of the France Women’s National Team from 2017-2020. She has appeared in a total of 36 matches, 35 starts, for Les Bleues, collecting a total of five goals and two assists on the international stage. One of her crowning achievements, Henry was awarded the Silver Ball at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada as the tournament’s second-best player. She then went on in the same year to finish second in the race for the UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award, cementing her status as one of the world’s best.
3. I’m Henry in the Champions League
Amandine Henry is known for many things, but principle among them - winning. In her 15+-year domestic club career, Henry has won the coveted Champions League a staggering seven times. She achieved the feat for her home club Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon), snapping off an unbelievable run of seven wins (2011, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022) in the world’s top club competition. In addition to her seven CL trophies, Henry also has thirteen league championships in her trophy case.
4. Legendary Strike
It’s rare that a player of international quality makes a single play that can adequately sum up their career as a player, but Amandine Henry made one of those rare plays in 2022. On the 21st of May, 2022, playing for her club Olympique Lyonnais against FC Barcelona, Henry struck a ball that would thrust her onto the world’s stage. Winning the ball in the midfield with a perfect slide tackle, Henry then got onto the ball with a couple touches and absolutely ripped it from about 40 yards out - whistling through the air, over the goalkeeper, and thundering into the top right corner of the net. Henry was nominated for the 2022 Puskas Award for her beautiful strike. View the goal here.
