Recruitment Head Henry – a Hammers profile

Earlier today we brought you the news that the man who is to become the  club’s Head of Recruitment , Tony Henry, can’t join us until November because he is serving  out a six month notice period with Sunderland.

Here is a run-down on the man who is waiting in the wings to  uncover the next generation of Irons signings once he comes out of ‘gardening leave.’

Tony Henry once had a major falling out with super agent Jorge Mendes who manages the interests of  Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Carvalho and Jose Mourinho among many others.

Henry was a professional footballer in the seventies and eighties playing in the midfield or as a full back  for the likes of Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Altletic  and Stoke City.

He hung up his boots after 441 appearances and 71 goals in 1992 after short spells in Japan & Wales.

After retirement Henry became a scout and agent working for the Formation Group founded by Paul Stretford who has represented the likes of Wayne Rooney and a range of superstars.

During his time at Formation he came into contact with agent Mendes who he helped bring Portuguese players to the Premier League.   

Henry later gave evidence in a court case with Mendes “I gave two and a half years of my life to Mendes,” said Henry

“I worked non-stop, introducing him to people, trying to get his players into clubs. We shared our fees honourably, but then once he knew people, and got Mourinho into Chelsea, he went on his own.”

Henry went to become chief scout for Chelsea before joining Everton in the same role and then Sunderland in March this year.

As exclusively revealed on Claret and Hugh he is now running down his gardening leave before he joins us as director of recruitment in November.