New York Red Bulls French Connection

After the New York Red Bulls signed Thierry Henry in 2010, there always seemed to be an inkling that more Frenchmen would be linked to join the team.

Rumors swirled that someone like Robert Pires or Nicolas Anelka would join good friend Henry in New Jersey, but nothing ever came of those grumblings. Neither player never even came to MLS.

But the Red Bulls search for a second Frenchman continued and it brought them to Sebastien Le Toux, a 2010 member of the MLS Best XI. Le Toux, formerly of the rival Philadelphia Union, was acquired from the Vancouver Whitecaps for Dane Richards and allocation money.

Le Toux has played two games for the Red Bulls and the trade seems to have worked out. Le Toux scored the team’s lone goal Sunday in a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders and Wednesday he assisted on the team’s lone goal to none other than Henry in the 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire.

“Sebastien had a great game. Scoring a goal in his first game for us was great,” Henry told the media after Sunday’s game.

Le Toux, 28, has fond memories of watching Henry and now gets to play alongside his compatriot.

“I was young and I used to watch (Henry) in World Cup ’98, him scoring goals and being the superstar he is. It’s just great and some of my friends were jealous, it’s funny. He’s a great guy too and just a great player. I’m just lucky and I’m just going to enjoy all the moments I can have over here with him,” he said after Sunday’s game.

Henry, Le Toux and American Kenny Cooper are all natural forwards but Henry is capable of playing as a withdrawn forward in the midfield and Le Toux can slide to the wing, where he scored his goal from. It may take some time to use all three to their best capabilities on the field at the same time, but the Frenchmen seem to be working well together.

Le Toux’s assist to helped Henry score his first goal since April 28.

With Henry and Le Toux coming together on the pitch, it’s possible they could form a friendship off it, taking off to New York City and Soho to eat crepes, drink fine wine or catch a French flick at the Films on the Green Festival.

If they keep scoring goals for the Red Bulls, they’ll get as much love in New York as Henry does in France.