Still adapting, Amandine Henry already a difference make for Utah Royals FC

The 34-year-old midfielder earned her first start in a 0-0 draw with the Houston Dash after just three training sessions, and the change was immediate.

Photo courtesy: Utah Royals FC

There weren’t many changes in the Utah Royals’ lineup between a 5-1 loss to Louisville to the weekend’s home match against the Houston Dash.

But one change was, perhaps, all Amy Rodriguez’s side needed.

In her first start since joining the Royals less than a week previously, Amandine Henry helped guide Utah to a 0-0 draw at America First Field in Sandy.

That may not seem like much — a draw at home is still two points lost, right? But the differences were startling.

On one of the youngest rosters in the NWSL, with an average age around 25 years old, the 34-year-old French international made her presence immediately felt. At defensive midfielder, Henry’s impact on the game isn’t always immediately visible on the box score.

But it was felt — and seen — connecting a back line that included two rookies in Olivia Griffitts and Lauren Flynn; combining with a midfield trio of Mikayla Cluff and Zoe Burns, another rookie; and playing behind a forward pack of Paige Monaghan, Hannah Betfort and Ally Sentnor (again, a rookie).

“She’s been a great addition to the squad,” Flynn said. “She just has a calmness on the ball from years of experience. Having someone on your team that is so experienced is super healthy. It settles everything down. I think it’ll help us a lot.”

After more than a decade in France, Henry first made the move to the NWSL in 2016, where she scored four goals in 33 appearances with the Portland Thorns. She returned to her homeland with Lyon in 2018, scoring 19 goals in 87 appearances from 2018-23.

In between, she won the Silver Ball at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, being rated among the best players from Europe and a finalist for the UEFA Best Women’s Player award. She captained the squad from 2017-2020, eventually returning to the NWSL with Angel City a year ago before being traded to Utah for $75,000 in allocation money April 20.

“I won a lot of titles in France, so now I want to win again with Utah,” Henry said after training this week. “I am more excited to play here because it should be more competitive, with the playoffs too. I’m glad to be back.”

She knows, of course, that may take time. But Henry is all-in on the project that is Utah Royals FC in its current, relaunched configuration.

She also knows there is still plenty of work to do in Utah: the Royals took a step forward defensively against Houston, but still lack the “killer instinct” in front of goal that they’ll obviously need to compete in North America’s top women’s soccer league.

But that’s part of the project, too. It involves a process, acclimation — and perhaps even some slight adjustments in style of play with 20 years of professional experience.

“I have to adapt my style with my new teammates,” Henry said. “My side is different; I like to move with the ball and combine. I know the style of the NWSL; they like to play long balls in transition. But I think we have a lot of young players, so I try to manage the tempo and keep the ball, technically and be clean, and create more chances.”

But after just three training sessions, Henry has already made a difference — and not just in her own play.

“A characteristic of a great player is building and making players around you better. She’s done exactly that for us,” Rodriguez said. “She’s been able to really effect her teammates and bring out the best in them, offer different pictures that can unlock her teammates, and I’ve been really pleased with her.”