Michael Olise isn’t just thrilling FC Bayern fans right now. French legend Thierry Henry is also deeply impressed by the 24-year-old. In an interview with RMC Sport, the former world-class striker went into raves, highlighting qualities that often go unnoticed in Olise.
“Michael is different, both on and off the field. He’s an extraordinary guy,” Henry explained. Sometimes, he said, people don’t really understand why Olise does certain things on the field.
In Henry’s view, there’s hardly any need to discuss Olise’s technical skills. “I’m not going to talk about what he does with the ball, because everyone can see that—it’s extraordinary.”
For Henry, however, Olise stands out for much more than his spectacular dribbles, goals, and assists.
Olise is “just not normal” off the ball
The former French national team player is particularly impressed by his work off the ball. “But what he does without the ball is just not normal,” Henry raved.
At the end of a game, you can look at “who ran the most, who won the ball back the most often,” and at the same time, Olise is often the one “who impressed you the most.”
It’s precisely this combination that makes the Bayern star so special to Henry. Olise combines spectacular plays with an enormous willingness to work for the team.
Henry also highlighted the Frenchman’s unpredictability. Small technical touches, a backheel, or even a surprising bicycle kick show that Olise often does things on the field that no one expects.
“He wanted to do it, so he did it,” Henry said, describing Olise as a “special player” and “a lovable player who always puts the team first.”
Henry Defends the Bayern Star
As an example, Henry also cited Olise’s reaction to the Ballon d’Or debate. Instead of putting himself in the spotlight, the Bayern star gave the nod to Harry Kane: “No, Harry Kane should win it.”
For Henry, Olise embodies something that has become rare in modern soccer. “He’s someone who helps reconcile you with soccer a bit, because it’s been a bit tough lately.”
Henry also explicitly defended the Bayern star’s reserved demeanor off the field. Olise consistently draws attention with his often very brief answers in interviews. Most recently, his public behavior even became a topic of discussion among FC Bayern officials.
Henry, however, doesn’t believe there’s any ulterior motive behind it. “I know that some people might not like the way he talks to journalists, but he doesn’t do it on purpose. That’s just the way he is.”
The reason, he says, is more a matter of Olise’s personality: “He’s pretty shy. He’s an introvert and doesn’t particularly like the mixed zone.”
For Henry, this doesn’t change his enormous admiration for the Bayern star. On the contrary: for him, it’s precisely this combination of extraordinary skills, tremendous dedication, and an unusual personality that sets Olise apart from many other top players.