When recently publishing the profiles of their Ballon d’Or nominated players, European powerhouse Olympique Lyonnais opened their description of Amandine Henry with the words: ‘it is rather rare to find defensive players leave with the prize, or [to] even be named in the finalists, despite their crucial roles on the field.’ Indeed, one quick glance at the shortlist proves the bias towards attacking players with two big exceptions being defensive duo Lucy Bronze and Wendie Renard, also of Lyon and both well regarded for their ability to get forward as well as their defensive prowess.
Though capable of unleashing a fierce shot, Henry evades plaudits given her workload predominantly consists of unglamorous, grit your teeth and bear it defensive duties. While no one is claiming she is not one of the best players in her world (her name a constant and notable exception to the tendency to heap praise on attacking minded players in end of year roundups) the ultimate prize is one that seems perpetually out of her grasp though she is more than deserving of it.
Emerging from the World Cup as a standout player for France, the Lille native did not so much rise to the occasion, rather, she played the game at the high level she has been playing it for years. A Silver Ball victor at the 2015 tournament, Henry has only gone from strength to strength for both club and country, the latter of which she now captains under the management of Corinne Diacre.
A player of immense power and technical ability, I would argue that no other player has staked a better claim to the Ballon d’Or this year when we take both international and domestic performances into consideration.
Lyon’s 2019 started with the Coupe de France Feminine round of sixteen against Rodez. It took Henry, subbed on in the 71st minute, four minutes to score – picking up a loose ball on the 18-yard box, dribbling past the defence, and hammering home in the bottom corner. Though only given 20 minutes to make an impact, Henry commanded the midfield. With four successful aerial duels, three successful ground duels, two recoveries, and one interception – Henry regained possession for her team ten times, a 100% success rate. What these numbers do not reveal is Henry’s ability to cover her defense, another element of her game on clear display against Rodez.
Lyon’s approach to football sees their full backs surging forward to attack with Henry typically dropping back to hold the defensive line. This constant offense renders the opposition dependant on counter attacking to try and score, and Henry combats this progression by forcing these attacks out wide. Her movement not only forces the opposition away from goal, but also allows her team to reposition themselves. In this specific instance against Rodez, there is no need for her defence – Henry tracks back from the halfway line, blocks the ball, then sees it out of play. A week later, Lyon and Rodez met again: another victory for Lyon.
After seeing ten goals past Rodez, an international break arrived and France found themselves hosts to an unbeaten American side who had not conceded a single goal in 884 consecutive minutes of play. What came next was the only loss sustained by the US Women’s National Team in 2019. Again, Henry was vital to ensuring this victory. International dominance stemming from their athleticism, the Americans found all routes through the midfield constantly closed as the captain for Les Bleues matched them every step of the way. Winning 67% of duels, 64% of aerial duels, 100% of tackles, 86% of ball recoveries, and 100% of interceptions: Amandine Henry made 34 defensive plays and was successful 27 times.
Clearly a difficult player to try and render ineffective, what is it about Henry’s play that is so difficult?
It is no grand claim to suggest Amandine Henry has the sharpest football mind in the industry. This ability is something a number of people in the football world have commented on. Mark Parsons, her former coach at the Portland Thorns, said upon signing her: ‘Her brain is so far ahead of the average player on the pitch and there were times where she was thinking five, six steps ahead.’ Exceptionally gifted at analysing the game around her, Henry’s awareness is beneficial for a variety of reasons and is often the key to breaking down the opposition.
Take her assist for Ada Hegerberg during a 5-0 victory over rivals PSG. Henry, hovering just outside the box, collects a loosely headed clearance and pushes forwards. Her run draws two players to defend and leaves Bronze with space to collect. While the rest of the players then tuck in to defend, Henry keeps her position out wide to receive the ball once more. Having stayed on the wing, Henry has the time to pick out a pass and crosses the ball in for Hegerberg to head home.
This incredible ability to find space and position herself to aid her team also has a number of benefits when it comes to defense. Henry typically sits before her defensive line which allows for the defenders to push further up the pitch to assist an offensive play. Henry rotates their defensive duties and it is not uncommon to see her positioned deeper than any of the back line. Henry controls the tempo of the game: be it through slowing down play after recovering possession or beating her marker and surging forward.
As a box to box midfielder, Henry is the imperative cog that coverts defensive play into attack. This is clearly expressed through how she presses the opposition. During the opening World Cup game against the Korea Republic, for example, Henry’s constant press of the defence led to Eugénie Le Sommer scoring the fastest goal in a World Cup opening fixture. Having forced the opposition player deep into her own half, Henry successfully won the ball and is enabled to run down the wing after a quick return pass from Kadidiatou Diani. The press has drawn the defensive unit of Korea to the right hand side of the pitch, leaving a large gap in the center through which France’s attacking force can and did capitalise upon.
Additionally, Henry constantly recovers possession for her team and is often the first and only required line of defense. During Lyon’s most recent meeting with Montpellier for instance, Henry completed 25 defensive plays to regain possession for Lyon: an 89% success rate. Though forced off the pitch through injury in the 88th minute, resultantly missing France’s Euro qualifier against Serbia, she returned for a record breaking match against PSG where her defensive dominance and tendency to sweep in to recover possession aided a 1-0 victory and established a three point lead at the top of the table.
Her vision and initial positioning further extends into her excellent ability to pass and distribute the ball. Henry’s passing often takes out a number of players and sets up chances for her team. With the French team trying to capitalize down the wings during the World Cup, Henry’s distribution of the ball was vital in setting up this attack or in switching play to open space after pulling players out of position. Additionally, Henry’s coverage of the pitch (the most for France at the World Cup at 48km) sees her divert from her central role to overlap her attacking colleagues, with her acceleration powering her past defenders to cross the ball.
With Lyon too, it is Henry’s distribution that gives her team the attacking edge, as the following video clearly shows:
World Cup disappointment set aside, Lyon are currently unbeaten in their 2019/20 season and already have two trophies under their belts with an International Champion’s Cup victory and besting PSG to win the Trophée des Championnes. As unglamorous as the job is, Lyon’s dominance comes in part from Henry’s utter strength. Everything thus far mentioned regarding her game is amplified by the power she exerts upon the pitch. Henry does not only envision tactics perfectly, but she has the ability to perform them to the required standard to drive her team.
Whether the task demands she wrestle back possession or place her body on the line, Henry seemingly does what the situation calls for with ease. Here is where she shines. Upon battling for possession Henry is then capable of accelerating up the pitch: skilled in holding up the ball or passing to a teammate if they have matched her pace. Incredibly tricky, her ability to not only win the ball but maintain possession and initiate attack is a huge contributor to the attacking style Lyon employ.
When asked about her Ballon d’Or nomination, Henry said she hoped to finish higher than her seventh place ranking in 2018. Though there are a host of brilliant footballers on the shortlist, given her performance over this year, to finish outside of the top three at a minimum would be an insult to her craft. We might expect disappointment, what with how previous awards this year have gone, but what Amandine Henry has accomplished throughout 2019 has elevated the playing field for midfielders across the world and such a performance does not deserve to go without reward.