The player Thierry Henry once said was his toughest opponent is now unrecognisable
A former Premier League player who Thierry Henry described as his toughest-ever opponent is now living a much different life.
Henry, a legend with Arsenal, Barcelona and France, played with the world's elite footballers during his time in the pinnacle of football.
He won the Premier League three times with Arsenal, including in the Invincibles season of 2003/04, and was part of the Barcelona side that won a sixtuple of trophies, including La Liga and the Champions League, in the 2008/09 campaign.
It stands to reason, therefore, that Henry has the pick of players to choose from when it comes to naming his toughest opponent.
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His actual choice, though, might be surprising to many - former Derby County defender Taribo West.
West, who might be more familiar to certain audiences as a star player in the Championship Manager 01/02 game, enjoyed a fine career which encompassed spells at both Inter and AC Milan.
In 2001, the Nigeria defender spent time in the Premier League on loan at Derby, where he made 20 appearances in all competitions.
West initially signed on a three-month deal in November, which was later extended due to impressive performances.
He left Pride Park that summer and spent time training with Manchester City a year later but ultimately did not sign a contract.
He then had a slightly unusual spell at Championship side Plymouth Argyle, for whom he played just five games in 2005 before having his contract terminated.
During an appearance on CBS Sports Golazo in 2022, Henry was asked to name the player he least liked playing against.
"Does he have to be a direct opponent, or just a guy you don't like to play against?" Henry said.
"I will go with, direct opponent, I will go back in the days to Taribo West.
"They were man-marking. He was following you everywhere. Even in the dressing room!"
Since his retirement from football, West has undergone a career transformation - into a church pastor.
He founded the Shelter in the Storm Miracle Ministries of All Nation in 2014, explaining in an interview with Marca in 2023: "I used my church while I was in Milan to help the homeless and Nigerian women brought to Italy to become prostitutes.
"We gave them a place to stay and from there we found them jobs, and also helped them get their documents.
"All Christians are invited to our SSMMAN church; we don't make distinctions. For example, many Catholics come here to pray with us."
Two years earlier, he spoke about he had made the decision to become a pastor long before the end of his football career.
"I saw God one-on-one. That's where my transition started, from the field to the pulpit," he told Nigerian outlet The Cable.
"We were celebrating. In the middle of that, a woman stumbled into me and said: 'Sir, please may I know your name?'
"I said: 'I am Mr. No Name'. She said: 'May I know where you live?' I said: 'I live nowhere'. She left with annoyance.
"In the twinkle of an eye, I just heard an audible voice. And it came like a slap. It said: 'Switch, turn'. I turned. It said: 'Look at the woman. Look for her now and call that woman and apologise to her'. That can only be a voice from God.
"So I switched. I started searching for the woman, and when this sister came all the way from America, she told me a lot of prophecies.
"And she told me in the next one or two years, I would open a church. All the prophecies she gave me came to pass."
Topics:Â Thierry Henry, Football, Premier League, Derby County
Ryan Smart