France striker Thierry Henry has been embroiled in controversy since his handball dumped Ireland out of the World Cup.

1977: Born August 17, Paris.

1990: Joins French first division side Monaco as a 13-year-old.

1994: Makes top-flight debut against Nice on August 31, two weeks after his 17th birthday.

1996: December - Signs pre-contract with Real Madrid, who approach player through agent not registered with FIFA. The world body fine both player and Spanish club and annul agreement.

1997: May - Monaco go on to win French league championship, with Henry having scored nine goals in 36 matches.

October 11 - Wins first French cap in World Cup warm-up against South Africa in Lens.

1998: Plays for France in World Cup finals, scoring three goals in six matches, but remains on bench in 3-0 victory over Brazil in July 12 final.

1999: January 18 - Signs for Italian giants Juventus.

July - Declares himself unhappy at the Delle Alpi and advises compatriot Nicolas Anelka not to join Juventus because of bad team spirit.

August 3 - Signs for Arsenal for £10.5million.

September 9 - Nets first goal for Gunners after coming on as substitute in away victory at Southampton.

2000: June - Scores three times in five games in French Euro 2000 success, including the opener in semi-final clash with Portugal.

December - Scores hat-trick for Arsenal in 6-1 Boxing Day demolition of Leicester.

2002: January 11 - Charged with improper conduct following the Gunners' Premier League game against Newcastle on December 18 and later banned for three games. Finishes season with 32 goals as Arsenal win the Premier League and FA Cup double.

June 6 - Sent off for a late tackle against Uruguay during France's disappointing World Cup defence.

2003: April 27 - Named PFA Player of the Year.

May 2 - Named Football Writers' Player of the Year.

2004: April 16 - Scores four against Leeds in the Premier League, taking him to 150 goals for Arsenal.

April 25 - Named PFA Player of the Year for second year in a row on the day Arsenal clinch title with 2-2 draw at Tottenham.

May 10 - Wins Football Writers' Player of the Year award for second year in succession.

2005: October 18 - Comes off bench in Champions League game against Sparta Prague and curls in a superb goal to equal Ian Wright's Arsenal record of 185 goals, then scores a second in the second half to break the mark.

2006: February 4 - Become the first Arsenal player to score 200 goals for the club after netting in the victory over Birmingham.

April 25 - Arsenal reach Champions League final after beating Villarreal 1-0 in the semi-final.

April 27 - Named player of the year by the Football Writers' Association for a record third time.

May 7 - Scores hat-trick in final game at Highbury as Arsenal beat Wigan - taking his Premier League goal tally for the season to 27.

May 11 - Becomes the first player to receive the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year Award three times.

May 17 - Plays in Champions League final as 10-man Arsenal are defeated 2-1 by Barcelona. Afterwards severely criticises Norwegian referee Terje Hauge.

May 19 - Pledges his future to Arsenal despite speculation linking him with Barcelona, saying he will sign a new deal imminently. Signs four-year deal soon after.

July - Ends the World Cup with three goals, with France losing the final to Italy on penalties.

2007: November - After early part of the campaign is marred by foot problems, suffers a sciatic nerve problem and then a hamstring injury that rules him out until the new year.

March 9 - Ruled out for the remainder of the season after damaging groin in second leg of Champions League match with PSV - a 1-1 draw that ends the Gunners' hopes of silverware for the season.

May - Manager Arsene Wenger 'guarantees' Henry will not be sold over the summer.

June 22 - Reports claim Arsenal have agreed to sell Henry to Barcelona for £16million.

June 23 - Henry confirms he is joining Barca, subject to a medical. He cites the departure of Gunners vice-chairman David Dein and the refusal of manager Arsene Wenger to commit his own future beyond the next season as his reasons for leaving Emirates Stadium.

June 25 - The striker signs for £16.1million after passing a medical.

September 19 - Scores his first goal for his new club in a 3-0 Champions League group stage win over Lyon.

September 29 - Nets first hat-trick for Barca in a league match against Levante.

2008: April 26 - With Henry failing to hold down a regular place in the Barca first team, the striker gives an interview to the BBC's Football Focus programme where he reveals he is missing life in England.

2009: May 13 - After a more successful campaign, wins first silverware with Barca as they defeat Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final.

May 16 - Barca win their 19th Primera Division title without kicking a ball when Real Madrid lose 3-2 at Villarreal.

May 27 - Barca complete an unprecedented title hat-trick with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final.

November 18 - Henry earns widespread condemnation when he uses his hand to control the ball before setting up Williams Gallas to score for France in extra time in the second leg of their World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland. The goal books France's place in South Africa.

November 20 - FIFA rule the match cannot be replayed. Henry says a replay "would be the fairest solution", leading the Football Association of Ireland to further canvass FIFA for a new fixture.

December 1 - FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke confirms the Republic will not be given a place at next year's World Cup after the possibility of them being a 33rd team had been discussed.

2010: January 18 - FIFA announce they will take no disciplinary action against Henry.