Jordan Henderson. Leader. Liverpool Legend.

A thread.

A player that’s divided opinions over the years - someone’s whose Liverpool future was in doubt back in 2012, to leading his club to their sixth Champions League, a Super Cup, a Club World Cup & seemingly a first Premier League Crown.

Premier League Player of the Year, 2019/20?

Let’s start from the beginning.

Did you know Henderson came close to not making it Sunderland? There were 5 scholarships available, with 4 players from the same academy given professional contracts ahead of him. It came down to a choice between 2 regarding who would get the 5th

Dave Robinson [ex PE teacher]: “He always stood out in the team, but was happy to play anywhere to help his team-mates and friends. He just loved playing football and had this desire to constantly improve.”

Dave Robinson [ex PE teacher]: “I had him in my Year 9, 10 and 11 team. I could never fault his attitude. He just always wanted to learn. He always had something extra. He was a super lad when he was at Farringdon and still is.”

Having established himself in Sunderland’s junior set-up, where his U16 team won the league and cup double, Henderson was handed his senior debut by Roy Keane in November 2008, a 5-0 loss to Chelsea. A loan spell at Coventry followed.

During his time with Sunderland, Henderson played 79 games, totting up 11 assists and 5 goals.

Graeme Anderson: ”Jordan instantly took to being part of the first team, whether that be playing wide on the right or in central midfield, but among the fans he divided opinion.”

Jordan Henderson: “My time at Sunderland was great. I really enjoyed it. I had Kevin Ball during my apprenticeship and he was very good, we had a good team to be fair and it was brilliant.”

Jordan Henderson on Roy Keane: “Roy was a huge part of me getting my chance as a footballer. He gave me my debut at Sunderland and had a huge impact. I can never really repay him for that. To work under him, knowing what he was as a player was amazing, really."

Sir Alex Ferguson revealed in his autobiography that the reason he turned down the chance to sign Henderson for Manchester United because of ‘concerns over his running style’, however Kenny Dalglish had other ideas and brought him to Anfield for £20m in June 2011.

Jamie Carragher: “Kenny wanted to find a place for him in the team, and he initially played a lot of games on the right of midfield. It took him time to find his feet. He could be a very intense character back then who would get frustrated and emotional at times."

Jamie Carragher: "I remember him having a spat with Luis Suarez in training one day and I just thought, 'Do you know what? He has something. They didn't come to blows, but Jordan and Luis exchanged words, but Jordan stood up to him. That's not easy as a young player”

Kenny Dalglish: “He had the sole thought in this mind he was going to be a player. He didn’t spit his dummy out when there was something said about him that was not complimentary, he would just work even harder. If something complimentary was said, he never got carried away.”

In 2012, Brendan Rodgers was keen to sign Clint Dempsey. Henderson was offered to Fulham as part of a deal. "He told me that he wanted to stay here and fight.”

That seemed to be a turning point as he then established himself in the Liverpool side.

of the 13/14 campaign followed. Liverpool came within touching distance of the league.

Many say that it was Henderson’s 3-game suspension during the title run in denied them as his performances in the 34 domestic games beforehand spearheaded his side towards the title.

It is only since Steven Gerrard left in 2015, and the team started evolving under Jürgen Klopp, that fans seemingly noticed Henderson's own qualities, rather than comparing him to their former skipper.

His evolution as a player and a captain under Klopp has been progressive, effective and worth the wait. From the lad that almost failed to make the grade at Sunderland, he became the most vital cog in Liverpool’s wheel which saw the club claim their sixth Champions League trophy.

Jurgen Klopp in 2016: “I see him every day in training so if I was doubting him then he would not be here. I have no doubt.”

Henderson remained in Klopp’s first team set-up for the next two campaigns despite fans calling for him to be replaced as skipper by Virgil Van Dijk who Liverpool acquired for £75m in January 2018.

It was the 18/19 season where Hendo started to win back his plaudits from 13/14 as he lead his side to Champions League success, a run that saw them come from 3-0 down to Barcelona and overturn the deficit.

But narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to City by a point.

Henderson: “There was no way I was going to come off that night. I hurt a tendon in my knee in a tackle but I knew if I could manage the pain and reach half-time, I’d be ok. I had injections & painkillers and jumped on the spinning bike for 10 minutes to stop my knee seizing up.”

Adam Lallana: “He’s my best mate and it means just as much to me seeing him lift it. Everyone, myself, Milner, Van Dijk, Mo, everyone has the respect for him. Now he’s lifted Big Ears up there his name deserves to be with the legends of this club forever.”

To the current 2019/20 season. At the time of writing this, Liverpool have amassed a staggering 82 points after 29 games.

That would have won them the title in:

1995/96
1996/97
1997/98
1998/99
2000/01
2010/11
2015/16

Premier League records Henderson’s Liverpool side have set:

Best start ever [61 points from 21 games]
Most points won over 38 matches [104pts]
Biggest lead at the top [25pts]
Most home wins in a row [22]

Steve Bruce: “All Jordan cares about is football, he eats, sleeps and breathes it. Long may that continue, and I have a feeling it will. He's never given anyone a moment's trouble and I wouldn't believe it if I heard he'd been caught up in something off the field.”

Tim Sherwood: "I think what Jordan Henderson gives you is something a stats man can't show you. What that kid gives you personality wise drives them to be successful every single day. You cannot quantify that. He is an unbelievable leader of that squad.”

The CIES Football Observatory has listed Jordan Henderson as #1 on their list of the highest performing players of 2020, based on productivity and efficiency on the pitch measured both individually and collectively.

Just this past month, he contacted other club captains to create a Premier League coronavirus crisis fund that will collect 'millions of pounds. A leader on and off the pitch. An example setter.

Ben Mee: “Jordan Henderson might be the captain of the European Champions but he is also a working-class lad from Sunderland who deserves full credit for bringing us all together, showing what makes a true leader.“

Sadio Mane on his Player of the Season: "I would go for Hendo. He’s been a big part of our success this year, he has been incredibly both defensively and in attack. He was really good this year. A really good leader and a great captain.”

He has made 359 Liverpool appearances, contributing a goal or an assist every 4.6 games - but he offers much, much more than that both on and off the field. Aged just 29, he’ll more than likely pass 500.

Champions League
Super Cup
Club World Cup
Premier League

Whatever you think of him, he’s led this Liverpool side to almost every major trophy available, breaking numerous Premier League records along the way.

That says more about him than any statistics every will.