HOUSTON -- Yuli Gurriel has agreed to an $8.3 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros, giving him a $300,000 raise from his scheduled salary for next season.

Gurriel hit .298 and set career bests with 31 homers and 104 RBIs in 2019 as the Astros won the American League pennant for the second time in three seasons. He hit .310 with one homer and five RBIs in the team's seven-game World Series loss to the Washington Nationals.

The 35-year-old first baseman, who defected from Cuba, agreed in July 2016 to a $47.5 million, five-year contract with the Astros that included an $8 million salary for 2020. That deal allowed Gurriel to void the remainder of his contract when he became eligible for salary arbitration for the first time, and he reached that eligibility this offseason with 3 years, 43 days of major league service.

His new contract allows him to become a free agent after the 2020 season, preserving a right contained in his original major league contract. It also includes the same award bonus provisions: $100,000 for MVP, $50,000 for second and $25,000 for third; $50,000 for World Series MVP, and $25,000 each for League Championship Series MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove and being selected an All-Star.

INDIANAPOLIS — The history of Indy car racing has included many innovations that have improved racing performance.

From the days of Parnelli Jones breaking the 150-mph barrier at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1962 to Tom Sneva topping the 200-mph mark 15 years later in 1977, innovation helped break records and create milestones that thrilled the masses.

For the past 20 years, however, most of that innovation has been focused toward safety. The original PEDS barrier was installed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1998 and when Arie Luyendyk crashed during an IROC race, it littered the track with debris and sent his car rebounding into traffic.

Although the PEDS was scrapped, further development led to the SAFER barrier that was installed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway prior to the 2002 Indianapolis 500. Since then, SAFER Barriers have become vital elements of race courses all over the world and have saved countless lives.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt’s death in a crash during the 2001 Daytona 500 led to the implementation of the HANS device.

The device keeps a driver’s helmet and neck in proper position during an impact and has virtually eliminated the danger of basilar skull fractures such as those that killed Earnhardt and others.

Despite the great reduction in driver fatalities, racing remains a risky and dangerous sport. Indy car driver Dan Wheldon was killed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011 and additional safety measures were added to the cars and to the tracks.

But it was Justin Wilson’s death when he was hit in the helmet by the nose cone off Sage Karam’s car at Pennsylvania’s Pocono Raceway in August 2015 that spurred IndyCar into action with the latest safety innovation.

It’s known as an aeroscreen and according to IndyCar President Jay Frye, it’s going to be a game changer in terms of driver safety.

“To me this is a total industry-changing driver safety solution, it’s all of it,” Frye said after an Oct. 2 test of the aeroscreen at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “We couldn’t be prouder of this. This to me is a game changer. This is big.

“The aero kit was obviously very cool. We got our identity back,” Frye explained. “We like the way it races, all that type of stuff, less downforce, more horsepower, that’s the direction, that’s all good. But I think this is something that will really change the complexion of the sport for a long time to come, so this is big.”

Frye used his NASCAR connections with Red Bull to help facilitate the aeroscreen concept.

The latest version combines a structure similar to the halo used in Formula One and the added safety benefit of an aerospace-material, canopy-like windshield that could greatly reduce the danger involved with some of these crashes.

The aeroscreen is a joint effort among IndyCar, Red Bull Advanced Technologies, Dallara, PPG Aerospace and Pankl Racing Systems.

When Frye was managing Red Bull Racing’s NASCAR operation from 2008 to 2011, he developed a working relationship with members of Red Bull’s Formula One effort, including Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull F1.

Earlier this year, Frye wanted to move forward with his driver-cockpit initiative, which at that time was a plexiglass windscreen. When tests did not produce the results Frye had hoped, he contacted Horner for advice.

“Through Christian and Jonathan Wheatley, who is Red Bull’s sporting director and team manager and also a really good friend, we started talking about this,” Frye explained. “We had been working on something at IndyCar for several years and couldn’t quite get it over the hump. I called them and they said they had built an aeroscreen for Formula One, but F-1 went with the halo, instead.

“Red Bull still had this piece. I asked if they could work on getting their piece put on our car. It evolved from there.”

The original Red Bull piece would not work because of the unique loads on an Indy car, but Red Bull Advanced Technologies developed a piece that is incorporated onto the Indy car roll hoop, making it stronger than the halo.

The current aeroscreen combines aspects of a halo with the extra protection of a windscreen to create a safety-redundant system of protection for the driver.

“It’s pretty cool that you have an F-1 team and Red Bull Advanced Technologies working together with IndyCar to have this on our car,” Frye said. “It’s motorsports working together where we have partnered with an F-1 team to come up with a total safety solution for us and it’s been a lot of fun.

“I’m a big believer we all need to work together for all of us to succeed.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Two-time Daytona 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been named the honorary starter for the 62nd running of the Great American Race on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

Earnhardt, a two-time Daytona 500 race winner, has been a regular Daytona 500 attendee since he completed his final full-time season as a NASCAR Cup Series driver in 2017. He was the official pace truck driver for this year’s Daytona 500 and in 2018 served as the race’s Grand Marshal.

Earnhardt, now a commentator for NBC Sports, enjoyed a 19-year NASCAR Cup Series career, during which he was named the NASCAR Cup Series’ Most Popular Driver 15 times consecutively from 2003-17. He won 17 events at Daytona Int’l Speedway, tied for the third-best all-time total.

“The only thing left for Dale now is for him to sing the National Anthem prior to the Daytona 500,” said Daytona Int’l Speedway President Chip Wile. “That probably won’t happen. But what will happen, come February, will be another outpouring of support from race fans about Dale’s involvement. There’s no way to exaggerate how much he means to the fans and to NASCAR. Any role he plays on a Daytona 500 weekend is significant.”

“One thing is certain, I’m not doing any singing at Daytona no matter how hard they ask,” Earnhardt joked. “But I am going to enjoy waving the green flag in February. The start of the Daytona 500 is a special moment in not only NASCAR but all of sports. I am truly honored to be part of that.”

Daytona Int’l Speedway has assembled a special Daytona 500 ticket package around Earnhardt’s honorary starter role. The package, costing $250, covers a ticket to the Daytona 500, UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race Access, an exclusive question-and-answer session with Earnhardt and a commemorative item signed by Earnhardt.

To purchase, fans can visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Members of the racing industry have had Dec. 12-14 circled on their calendars for more than a year, with the letters “P,” “R” and “I” scribbled over the dates.

That’s because once again all roads and runways will lead to Indianapolis next month as the city hosts the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show at the Indiana Convention Center and the adjacent Lucas Oil Stadium.

Indianapolis is often referred to as “The Racing Capital of the World” thanks to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s also known as “the Crossroads of America” because many Americans live within a day’s drive and the “Circle City” because the city’s original design included a circle that now contains the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Monument. Whatever one calls it, it’s the perfect site for the biggest motorsports-only trade show in this country.

Registration is available for people involved in motorsports businesses. It’s important to note it’s a trade-only event and not open to fans.

The main reason the event exists is to give motorsports businesses the chance to sell or exhibit their products or services to people who may purchase them. More than 1,100 companies will have exhibits in more than 3,300 booths.

Attendees will come from all 50 states and more than 70 countries, and will include members of professional race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers and the media.

Although the show is primarily held in the Indiana Convention Center, this year Lucas Oil Stadium will also be utilized to showcase race trailers, motor coaches, haulers, toterhomes, etc.

“PRI welcomes more than 65,000 attendees, generating an estimated $65 million in economic impact for Indianapolis,” said Lisa Wallace, associate director, convention marketing, for Visit Indy. For Indianapolis-based conventions “it ranks second in terms of economic impact, only behind Gen Con.”

She added that Gen Con, a convention for tabletop gaming enthusiasts, attracts approximately 70,000 attendees who generate $74 million in economic impact.

Indianapolis’ third-biggest convention is the National Future Farmers of America Convention, which generates about the same number of attendees as Gen Con but brings in about $39 million.

Since it’s rare for so many participants of such a diversified sport to be in one city at the same time, attending the PRI Show allows manufacturers involved in the sport to see firsthand what other companies specializing in other areas of motorsports are offering.

It’s the perfect place to “kick some tires” in a figurative sense, as businesspeople compare notes, and sometimes the result is a new market or a new product for a company.

In recent years, the reasons to attend have expanded, however, as there has been additional emphasis on new technology, safety and education in addition to traditional networking.

Networking always has been a key aspect of the show and it spills over to breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Some sanctioning bodies hold their annual banquets in the evenings since so many manufacturer representatives are already in town.

Although the show doesn’t begin until Thursday, several conferences and seminars will be held in and around the Convention Center starting Dec. 9. They include the Race Track Business Conference and the International Council of Motorsport Sciences’ Annual Congress.

Often manufacturers and other groups “save” their news for press conferences held during the show, and many sanctioning bodies release their schedules for the upcoming season.

Like all big trade-only shows, the event has always been a challenge to stage. It’s currently under the control of the Specialty Equipment Market Ass’n, which also organizes the famous SEMA Show for the automobile aftermarket industry each November in Las Vegas.

One thing almost all PRI Show attendees have in common is they receive the Performance Racing Industry magazine monthly free of charge for being a qualified member of the racing industry, also described as “retailers, distributors, manufacturers and racing participants within the United States.”

The PRI Show has a few “standards” each year. In Machinery Row one can purchase raffle tickets for a special engine. The Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes is selling chances to win a high-performance street engine built by Sonny Leonard, owner of Sonny’s World Class Racing. The proceeds benefit the Victory Junction program founded by NASCAR’s Petty family.

Perhaps the best example of a PRI signature event, however, is the Grand Opening Breakfast on the opening day of the show. Besides offering breakfast to show-goers in the Sagamore Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center prior to the start of the show, this year attendees will be treated to a talk-show style visit with Don Schumacher Racing drivers. SPEED SPORT’s own Ralph Sheheen will be the emcee. It’s free for convention goers to attend, but it’s on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Here's a look at what's happening in professional golf this week, and how you can watch it:

PGA Tour

RSM Classic

Thursday-Sunday, Sea Island GC (Seaside/Plantation), St. Simons Island, Ga.

Course specs: Seaside – Par 70, 7,005 yards; Plantation (recently redesigned by Davis Love III and Mark Love) – Par 72, 7,060 yards

Purse: $6.6 million

Defending champion: Charles Howell III

Notables in the field: Brendon Todd, Lanto Griffin, Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson, Akshay Bhatia, Sebastian Munoz, Rory Sabbatini, Davis Love III, Dru Love, J.J. Henry

Tee times: TBD

TV schedule: Thursday-Friday, Noon-4 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)

PGA Tour Live: Thursday-Friday, 9:15 a.m.-4 p.m. ET

European Tour

DP World Tour Championship

Thursday-Sunday, Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Course specs: Par 72, 7,677 yards

Purse: $8 million

Defending champion: Danny Willett

Notables in the field: Bernd Wiesberger, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Matthew Fitzpatrick

Tee times: TBD

TV schedule: Thursday-Saturday, 2-8 a.m. ET (Golf Channel); Sunday, 1:30-7:30 a.m. ET (Golf Channel)

LPGA

CME Group Tour Championship

Thursday-Sunday, Tiburon GC (Gold), Naples, Fla.

Course specs: Par 72, 6,556 yards

Purse: $5 million

Defending champion: Lexi Thompson

Notables in the field: Thompson, Nelly Korda, Jin Young Ko, Jeongeun Lee6, Hyo Joo Kim

Tee times: TBD

TV schedule: Thursday-Saturday, 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Sunday, 1-4 p.m. ET (NBC)

Argentina's Lionel Messi scored an added-time penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw with Uruguay as they twice came from behind in an entertaining friendly match in Israel on Monday.

Argentina, now unbeaten in six games since a disappointing Copa America, had the better of the early play but fell behind in the 34th minute when Edinson Cavani stabbed home from close range after a nice build-up by Luis Suarez and Lucas Torreira.

The crowd in Tel Aviv cheered Messi throughout and it was the forward who helped Argentina draw level in the 63rd.

Messi's free kick from the left was nodded home by Sergio Aguero to put a more realistic sheen on the scoreline for the Argentines, who had been the more positive side throughout.

However, Suarez gave Uruguay the lead again in the 69th when he scored with a powerful 20-metre free kick that flew past goalkeeper Esteban Andrada into the top corner.

But the last word went to Messi who, three days after he missed from 12 yards against Brazil, made no mistake by coolly side-footing home from the spot to secure a deserved draw.

The fixture was the last international for both teams before they begin their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign in March.

The first time the college football world was introduced to Tua Tagovailoa, he was coming off the bench during the second half of the 2018 national championship game in Atlanta. Out went a struggling Jalen Hurts, who had gone 26-2 as a starter and had once been named SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and in came this lefty from Hawaii, this true freshman no one had ever heard of, who showed no signs of being overwhelmed by the moment as he methodically led Alabama back against Georgia.

In the first possession of overtime, down three, he took a sack and still wasn't rattled. Instead, facing second-and-26, he dropped back and found DeVonta Smith racing down the sideline for the winning touchdown, and all hell broke loose. Tagovailoa and his teammates sprinted around the field that night in a state of joy, almost unsure of what to do with themselves after such an improbable, historic comeback. Even the usually reserved Nick Saban let himself get swept up in the moment, the coach smiling from ear to ear as he lifted his arms in celebration.

There was something about the way Alabama won that felt new and transformative. It was as if the DNA of a dynasty that had long thrived on defense and careful execution on offense had been recoded in a single night by a quarterback whose talents we were only beginning to understand.

Which is what made the scene on Saturday afternoon at Mississippi State so jarring. Alabama's 38-7 win was an afterthought. There was no celebration as many of those same teammates from the 2018 title game walked off the field at Davis Wade Stadium with their heads hung low, processing what they'd seen hours earlier. Tagovailoa, their star quarterback and leader, was gone after being taken by helicopter to St. Vincent's Medical Center in Birmingham. He was hurt late in the first half on a seemingly innocent play, dislocating his right hip, an injury that would end his season and almost certainly his historic career at Alabama.

Najee Harris, who had scored a career-high four touchdowns in the game, was borderline despondent. "I'm just hurt," he told reporters. Saban spoke about the injury in grave terms, even though a definitive diagnosis wasn't clear at the time. He called what happened a "freak thing." If he could do it over again, knowing how it would end, he said he would not have put Tagovailoa back in the game, with Alabama ahead by four touchdowns and halftime moments away. But Tagovailoa said he wanted one more series, and Saban said OK.

And now? Now Saban was using words no coach ever wants to use. "Godspeed to him and his entire family and our thoughts and prayers are with them," he said. "[I] hope this is not so serious it has any long-term effect on his future as a player."

If this is indeed the end of Tagovailoa's time at Alabama, if he opts to enter the NFL draft, it's a shame he went out on such unfortunate terms. Seeing him writhing in pain on the field, his face bloodied, unable to walk off under his own power, was the antithesis of the player we have seen perform near-superhuman acts for the past two-plus seasons.

You could feel something special building after that coming-out party in Atlanta. Tagovailoa beat out Hurts for the starting job and proved he deserved the hype. Coaches marveled at his presence in the pocket; one staffer said it was almost as if he had eyes in the back of his head. Defenders took stock of his poise and how his eyes scanned the field so quickly; they could only shake their heads when he fit passes into windows that didn't seem to exist. He was an artist, an enigma. Former Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin got flashbacks of recruiting him in high school. "It's just a magical aura and accuracy with the ball," he said.

Remember Tagovailoa's first touchdown pass as a starter in the season opener against Louisville? He was trapped by the defense, spun around wildly and, without breaking stride, flung the ball in the general direction of ... nobody? But then Jerry Jeudy appeared, six points went on the scoreboard and no one ever questioned him again.

The sport hadn't seen anything like Tagovailoa in an Alabama uniform before. He almost single-handedly changed the offense, dragging it into the 21st century with his ability to spread the ball all over the field. Instead of the I-formation, he threw to four and five receivers. Instead of grinding down the clock, Tagovailoa & Co. were lighting up the scoreboard in seconds.

His feel for the game was on another level. Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said he was the kind of quarterback who could beat you with his "legs, feet [and] mind." Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst Steve Young recently pointed to Tagovailoa as an example of where intuition -- "the three-dimensional chess in your head" -- and physical ability collide. "Those rarely come together," he said.

If not for a sprained ankle he suffered during last season's SEC championship game, Tagovailoa might have won the Heisman Trophy instead of finishing as the runner-up to Oklahoma's Kyler Murray. But then -- just when you thought he was falling back to Earth -- he did something magical again: He had surgery and returned just four weeks later, throwing four touchdowns in an Orange Bowl win against the Sooners.

Whatever humbling he experienced against Clemson in the 44-16 title game loss weeks later didn't derail him. Tagovailoa came back this season more determined and more focused than ever. He suffered another high ankle sprain -- this time to his right ankle -- had the same surgery and returned in three weeks instead of four, tossing four more touchdowns in a shootout loss against LSU he might have won if there were five more minutes left to play. Saban called him a "warrior" for that performance, and in sports terms, who would argue otherwise? Before the hip injury against Mississippi State, Tagovailoa had thrown 31 touchdowns and only three interceptions all season.

If Tagovailoa's time in college is over, take a minute to marvel at his passing numbers to date: 7,442 yards, 87 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in essentially two full seasons as a starter. He's been responsible for more total touchdowns (96) than anyone else in school history, and he could hang it up right now with a legacy as one of the most entertaining, compelling, accomplished quarterbacks to play college football.

"He's one of the best competitors, one of the best young people in college football," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "... He's the epitome of a winner."

And it's those same admirable qualities -- that warrior mentality, that drive to win at all costs -- that might have made Tagovailoa more vulnerable on the football field. He had an unflinching belief that he could make something out of nothing, and the numbers backed it up. He was so successful at extending plays and eluding the oncoming rush -- his 20 passing touchdowns under pressure are the most of any quarterback since 2018 -- that he had no reason to stop trying.

Such was the case after he sprained his ankle the first time as a sophomore. This season it happened all over again, when he tried to escape the Tennessee defense, to buy a little bit more time, and instead was yanked down to the turf, where his ankle moved in ways it wasn't supposed to. Then finally, on Saturday, he again refused to let the play die and paid the price. He rolled to his left and kept searching and searching for an open man until he knew he was caught; he threw the ball away just as two defenders fell on top of him, causing him to land awkwardly on his right leg. This time, Tagovailoa couldn't get up; he couldn't have doctors stitch him up and keep on going.

Monday, he had hip surgery in Houston. We won't know the full extent of his injury and path to recovery for some time.

For now, though, Alabama will have to move on without him, unsure of what the future holds. But it can do so knowing that whatever happens next, there's no doubting his impact on the program, which began in thrilling fashion and somehow kept delivering moments that took your breath away.

Every week, we'll mine the waiver wire for lesser-rostered assets to help your squad, whether you favor dynasty or the redraft format, and we'll also toss in some tips for DFS players out there. Finally, we will look at some former go-to fantasy assets who may be overvalued - in the short- or long-term - for one reason or another.

Forwards

Andre Burakovsky, LW/RW, Colorado Avalanche (Rostered in 24.9 percent of ESPN.com leagues): Following a quiet start to the month, Burakovsky appears back in his productive groove with three goals and an assist in his past two games. Competing on a scoring line with Nazem Kadri and top power play with Nathan MacKinnon, the 24-year-old former Capital is a legit threat to contribute game in and out. He could score 30 this year, obliterating his career-best mark of 17 goals from four seasons ago. I really love this young player as a still-under-the-radar fantasy asset in Colorado.

Jared McCann, LW/C, Pittsburgh Penguins (10.6 percent): While there's no arguing Evgeni Malkin needs "to be fire", by his own admission, in helping amend for the months-long loss of Sidney Crosby, the veteran star can't center both top lines in Pittsburgh. Which is where McCann figures in, as temporary placeholder for one of the best in the game. So far, so good, as the 23-year-old has a pair of goals through the first three Crosby-less games, and seven points altogether in his past six. McCann's projected outlook for production appears even more promising once a healthy Patric Hornqvist re-joins the Penguins' top-six, supposedly soon.

Kirby Dach, C, Chicago Blackhawks (5.6 percent): Further proof that sometimes all a struggling kid needs is to take the game in from a different view. After sitting as a healthy scratch Nov. 9, the 18-year-old forward has erupted for four goals and two assists in four contests. How long until this year's 3rd overall draft selection - who's clearly gaining in confidence - sees more on-ice minutes in a more prominent role? He keeps up anywhere near this pace, and my guess is not long.

Martin Necas, C, Carolina Hurricanes (4.2 percent): Skating on a forward line with Nino Niederreiter and Carolina's secondary power play, the 20-year-old rookie is averaging a point-per-game this November. Just wait until he starts seeing top-six minutes on the regular. As with Dach, fantasy managers in dynasty/deeper re-draft leagues should be all over the 12th overall draft pick (2017) who, honestly, could collect 60 points in his first true NHL season.

Barclay Goodrow, LW/RW, San Jose Sharks (3.4 percent): A valued commodity in satisfying fantasy hockey's more physical categories, Goodrow ranks second in the league in penalty minutes (40), and 12th amongst forwards in blocked-shots (20). Oh, and he's presently skating on a Sharks' scoring line with Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier. All considered, the 26-year-old is a must-roster in leagues that reward feisty play in addition to scoring.

Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens (3.0 percent): Bumped to a scoring line aside Max Domi, Suzuki extended his point streak to three games with a power-play goal in Saturday's 4-3 OT loss to the Devils. The 20-year-old rookie also earned more than 18 minutes of ice-time and fired three shots on net. Drafted 13th overall in 2017, Suzuki is just getting going on what should amount to an exceptionally productive career. At minimum, he makes for an obvious dynasty asset. I'd give him a look as a wild card in deeper re-draft leagues as well.

Alex Iafallo, C/LW, Los Angeles Kings (1.4 percent): Don't let Ilya Kovalchuk's ugly alleged break up with the Kings distract from Iafallo's current productive run. Seeing heavy minutes on a top line with Anze Kopitar, the 25-year-old winger has five points in four games. Hardly jaw-dropping numbers, but nonetheless useful in deeper fantasy competition. Consider exploiting Iafallo as a streaming option before he cools off.

Defenders

Adam Fox, New York Rangers (12.3 percent): Despite ranking third as a fantasy asset behind Tony DeAngelo and Jacob Trouba on New York's blue line, Fox still merits rostering in deeper leagues. After taking a few games to figure it out at the NHL level, the 21-year-old rookie has since broken out for eight points in 11 contests, including a pair of power-play assists. Collecting 48 points in 33 games with Harvard last year, Fox figures to pitch in production-wise with the Rangers for years to come.

Goaltenders

Mackenzie Blackwood, New Jersey Devils (10.4 percent): If there was any doubt as to who serves as the club's No. 1 netminder, the Devils placed Cory Schneider on waivers on Monday. Winner of five games and counting this November, Blackwood has been solid more often than not after a more wobbly launch to 2019-20. The 22-year-old projects to earn the bulk of starts in New Jersey going forward. Any fantasy manager who believes the Devils might contend this season should seriously consider investing in Blackwood.

Lowered expectations

Carter Hutton, G, Buffalo Sabres (56.9 percent): I've little doubt the Sabres will altogether rebound from what has evolved into an unpleasant, loss-heavy November, including their No. 1 netminder. But we're not there yet. And backup Linus Ullmark has been the better of Buffalo's two goalies of late. Bench Hutton until he shows convincing signs of having turned this recent corner.

Thierry Henry needs no reminder about his brief stint in charge of AS Monaco but the former France striker said on Monday he hopes the experience will benefit him in his new role as coach of Montreal Impact.

Henry failed to spark a change in fortunes at struggling Monaco and was sacked in January after just 103 days, but is not about to let his first head coaching role define him as he gets set to take charge of a Major League Soccer club.

"You guys always remember the good stuff, but I became a better player in the darkness," Henry, who won a World Cup in 1998, said at his introductory news conference in Montreal.

"Hopefully that's going to help me to become a good coach."

During Henry's stint as coach of the Ligue 1 side, where he also played five seasons and won the league title in 1997, the squad lost 11 of their 20 matches.

But despite Henry's turbulent introduction to being a head coach, the 42-year-old former New York Red Bulls man said it would be a mistake to just give up and not try to show what he has learned.

"It didn't work out in Monaco. I can give you a lot of excuses but at the end of the day it didn't work out and I am here as a coach of Montreal," said Henry.

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"I learned a lot there. The only mistake you can make is not learning from what happened. You have to confront it."

Prior to Monaco, Henry had worked as assistant coach to the Belgian national team but had never been in charge of a team in his own right.

Henry, who scored 51 goals in 123 appearances for France and played at four World Cups, is eager for the chance to show the world he has what it takes to be a successful coach.

"It's about fighting all the time, this isn't only my story it's the story of everybody in life. You are going to fall but it's how to get up," said Henry.

Henry will be at the helm of his new team as of mid-January when training camp begins and takes over a Montreal squad that went 12-17-5 this year and missed the MLS Cup Playoffs for a third consecutive season.

Henry said he long ago fell in love with French-speaking Montreal, a diverse city where he hopes to have a long adventure with the Impact.

"If you take the best part of Europe and the best part of North America you will arrive in Montreal," said Henry.