Euro Soccer Star Henry Makes a Splash in American Debut

That didn't take long.

Thierry Henry, an international soccer star once considered among the finest strikers in the world, immediately ingratiated himself with American soccer fans by netting a goal in his first outing for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.

The fleet Frenchman scored in the 25th minute of an exhibition game against Tottenham of the English Premier League to put his new team ahead 1-0. The Red Bulls eventually lost 2-1, but Henry was in good spirits after the game.

"I can say it again: I'm here. I'm happy to be here," he said in a post-match interview with the New York Daily News. He formally joined the New York team earlier this month.

Henry, who only played 45 minutes, almost had a goal in the 17th minute which was prevented by a diving stop by the Hotspur goalie.

"(Henry) is a fantastic professional and he'll be a massive hit here in New York," said Harry Redknapp, coach of Tottenham. "He's still a world class player."

The 32-year-old formerly played for such famed European teams as Arsenal and Barcelona. He was the top goal scorer in the EPL for four seasons and helped France win the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Football Championship.

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