Friday 17 July 2015 06:27, UK
Thierry Henry goes back in time to prove that the Premier League is the best league in the world as part of a new advertising campaign for Sky Sports.
To celebrate the start of the new Premier League season on Sky Sports, the new advert, which uses ground-breaking special effects, will take two-time Premier League winner Thierry back to a series of iconic moments.
The advert, which has been launched today at www.facebook.com/SkySports, sees Thierry in 13 defining moments starting in 1993 with him joining the celebrations of Brian Kidd and Sir Alex Ferguson when a late win over Sheffield Wednesday set Manchester United on course for a first Premier League title.
Across 23 seasons of unforgettable drama, Thierry is cast into a succession of the most memorable moments through cutting-edge technology, ending with him watching from the gantry as Chelsea lift the Premier League trophy at Stamford Bridge at the end of the most recent season.
I know what makes the Premier League the best league in the world and this advert helps explain why. I'm looking forward to seeing more great moments this season.
Global football icon and Sky Sports analyst Henry said: "Both as a player and now working for Sky Sports, I know what makes the Premier League the best league in the world and this advert helps explain why. It was a fascinating process to be part of, very technical with the effects used to take me back to those memorable moments.
"Every detail was accounted for, the advertising boards, the old kits, the old ball from Eric Cantona's goal against Sunderland. Sky Sports has been the home of this history from the start and I'm looking forward to seeing more great moments this season."
'Unforgettable'
Gary Hughes, Head of Football at Sky Sports, said: "Sky Sports is synonymous with the Premier League - we have been there from the beginning and brought viewers countless unforgettable moments from the greatest league in the world. Thierry going back and celebrating a few of those special moments will only make everyone more excited for the season ahead."
A key part of the creative process that took more than five months was replicating the cameras and lenses used in the original footage across 23 years of Sky Sports coverage of the Premier League. Post production then reshaped space and time to allow Thierry to take his walk down memory lane.
Andy Fowler, founder and executive creative director of agency Brothers and Sisters, adds: "It is a sports fan's dream to delve into Sky's extensive catalogue of footage since 1992 of Premier League matches to make this film. So many great stories have been told around football, but here we have the chance to illustrate why this is the best league in the world."
From Cantona's outrageous chip against Sunderland to Sergio Aguero's last-minute title winner for Manchester City, Sky Sports has shown the very best goals, celebrations and emotions from the most exciting league in the world and Thierry is now part of those historic moments.
Henry, who scored 228 goals in 377 games for Arsenal, gives his own personal take on the action during the 90 second clip, with some moments involving the France international himself.
Filmed on location in Barcelona by a crew of more than 70 people, the clips pay homage to Sky Sports' unparalleled coverage of the Barclays Premier League, a partnership that was recently extended for another three years, lasting until at least the 2018-19 season.
Heading into the new football season, Sky Sports has more of the games that matter than ever in England and Scotland.
Sky Sports will show 116 games from the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League, 112 matches from the Sky Bet Football League, action from the Capital One Cup and over 30 games north of the border in the Scottish Professional Football League. With the final matches of qualifying for UEFA Euro 2016 also taking place, as well as exclusively live coverage of Major League Soccer in the USA and the Dutch Eredivisie, the new season promises to be a celebration of football on Sky Sports.
Hit the video at the top of the page and let Thierry remind you of all that is great about the Premier League.
