Legendary Arsenal French forward Thierry Henry has named former Nigeria international Taribo West as the toughest player he faced during his football career.
Henry disclosed this while answering questions on CBS Sports’ In The Mixer, during Tuesday’s Champions League analysis.
Henry and West squared off in the French Ligue 1 with the former featuring for AS Monaco while the later in the colours of Auxerre.
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And when asked the toughest player he has faced, the 1998 World Cup winner replied: “Toughest as in direct opponent? Or just a guy you hated to play against?”
The 44-year-old was asked to name both. And he replied: “Paul Scholes.
“For direct opponent, I would go back in the days and say Taribo West.
“Because (at Auxerre), they did man-marking. He followed you everywhere, even in the dressing room.”
The former Barcelona star went on to name Dutch legend Dennis Bergkamp as the player he enjoyed playing alongside.
Henry played for Monaco between 1994 and 1999 and won the Ligue 1 in the 1996-1997 season.
For Taribo, he helped Auxerre win their first league title in the club’s history in the 1995-1996 campaign.
4 Comments
He followed you everywhere, even in the dressing room. Lol.
monkey, I think I go with Stanley, even csn forum seem sanitized which is good for Nigerians and Africans. The only option of course is to be fair, don’t pull down any Nigerian player or coach again because they are not from your tribe. Taribo, Equavon, Uche, Okocha these Nigerian former players are feared, don’t want tribalistic ego. I think according to Stanley, you got the kicked out.
Wao wao wao.
For the first time, there is a semblance of sanitary in the system of play which can only come with players like Taribo West running the show. It is not surprising that the legend, Henry singled out Taribo among other Nigeria defenders of his contemporary. Taribo was the sanitiser the SE needed to reengineer the defence thereby forcing attackers who probably were having a field day, to retreat, restrategize into relegation as being experienced. 1998? No! Against Argentina in Atlanta 1996 Olympics, Ariel Ortega was technically pushed away thereby making force errors culminating in the defeat of Argentina in the hands of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. This is the thrust and the material substance.
The good thing is, today the SE has an able defence in our Oyinbo wall with Omerua foraying to assist from time to time but how far will they hold off this game sanitizer?
@Monkey, Why do you always like it with dressing room and little stuffs like pants? Most of those things were at onko backroom with a surging urge from the main cover, pastors don’t talk, they preach to us. Take things easy and play men’s game here. Leave the kitchen talks for women. Nigerians in uniosm made it possible for West to be praised today, players like Okocha who were know to be skillful don’t make noise over such immaterial things. Apart from Thiery Henri, West was feared by many attackers back in the days. This should be good news to Nigerians.