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It was 9 years since a 20 year old Jordan Henderson joined Liverpool. 364 apps, 29 goals & 48 assists later, he stands as club captain, a League Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup & PL winner, and now the 2019/20 FWA Footballer of the Year as well.
Jordan Henderson, born 17 June 1990 is a workhorse, he is the engine that keeps the team going. He covers most distance on d field. A very unselfish player, he excels in first touch football & very good at initiating an attack from midfield with a long ball played to an attacker
A huge fan of Sunderland (hometown club) product of the The Black Cats’ academy. He joined Sunderland at age of 8 in 1998. Coming up through the ranks he successfully made his senior debut for the club in 2008. An impressive second senior season with Sunderland he rose to glory.
He was named as one of the 13 players to watch out for in 2011 & was named Sunderland Young Player of the Year for the second time in the 2010-11 season. Here’s what FIFA had to say about him: “Composed, athletic and powerful.
This was enough to convince Liverpool of his talent and to sign for. His Anfield career began slowly- he was often deployed on the right flank by Sir Kenny Dalglish, but actually he made more appearances (48) than any other player in the squad in his first season in 2011/12.
Soon he found himself being criticised for being 'anonymous' in matches and in the summer of 2012, was reportedly even offered to Fulham in exchange for forward Clint Dempsey by Brendan Rodgers the new manager.
However Henderson fought his way back & he became an increasingly-important member of Liverpool's midfield. Under Rodgers, Henderson's technical and tactical ability began to develop rapidly becoming demonstrably more authoratative and commanding on the field of play.
After departure of Agger, Henderson was confirmed as vice captain on 15 Sept 2014. Rodgers claimed that "Jordan represents best values of what we are all about, as a team & as a club, It's another great story for Jordan in his journey and it shows the great progress he has made."
On 23 April 2015, Henderson signed a new 5 year contract, that season he scored 7 goals & got 14 assist. On 10 July 2015 Henderson had been named the captain of Liverpool FC by Brendan Rodgers, the very same manager who tried to trade Jordan with Dempsey from Fulham
Henderson on being traded off "I went to my room, shed few tears & ended up crying because it hurt so much. I spoke to my agent & told him I don’t want to go. I want to stay, fight, improve & try to prove manager wrong.” Same manager made him the captain. Talk about character, eh
Handing over the armband Gerrard himself said “I don’t think there’s a more fitting player than Henderson, to take that armband off me. I see a lot of my game in him."
For quite a while, Henderson was being viewed as a Gerrard replacement rather than the player he'd become in his own right. And at least to begin with, that expectations and the responsibility on his shoulders more generally – arguably weighed him down at times.
In comes Klopp & he decides to convert him from box-to-box figure of old into a much more withdrawn, defensively disciplined controller in #6. Game by game, however, Henderson grew into the #6 role, demonstrating his ability to control the tempo of the game and dictating the play
A plantar fasciitis + knee ligmanet-ravaged Hendo's seasons in twilight of Rodger's reign & in Klopp's initial years he remained plagued by injuries. But he had established himself as a complete midfielder who can score, provide assists and thwart the opposition attacks at ease.
When Klopp arrived, mostly fans thought jordan's days would be numbered. The high profile signings of Fabinho Keita Oxlade etc couldn't move Hendo out of the starting 11 and when VVD come in many thought the armband will eventually go to him in 1/2 seasons
Yet Henderson would go on from strength to strength being the mainstay of the Klopp's team and ultimately picking up 4 trophies as a captain and winning the 2019-20 FWA Player of the year, not bad for a player to be written off by so many.
Hendo is often been labelled as a chamelion who drifts in whatever role his manager asks him to do. His versatility is great asset and he always puts his team before himself and does his job without a fuss
One of Henderson's key attributes is his reading of the game and positioning to thwart the opposition counter. He is good in tracking back, recycling the position and immediate transition of the ball into attacking areas.
Most underrated aspect of Henderson's play is his passing. Be it a rabbona assist or back heel pass or his trademark Gerrard-esque hollywood long balls Jordan has everything in his locker, not bad for a player who's called not creative enough.
Henderson scores few goals, but they are mostly beauties. His near-perfect replica of Gerrard's Olympiakos strike against Burnley, his sumptuous top corner curler against City r prime expamples. A 30-yard stunner against Chelsea remains finest strike in his Liverpool collection.
If there are doubts about his playing abilities there shouldn't be any in his leadership qualities. Klopp said in the immediate aftermath of the trophy lift in Madrid “Jordan Henderson is the captain of the 2019 Champions League winners. That is satisfying,”
Steven Gerrard - “He is selfless, he puts himself at the back of the queue because he looks after everyone else first. He puts Jordan Henderson last.”
@VirgilvDijk “If any young player wants to follow an example, it should be him. He has been putting the team before himself for years. What I like is that he uses everything he to help others.”
@trentaa98 accepted Liverpool “wouldn’t be where we are now without him.”
@trentaa98 accepted Liverpool “wouldn’t be where we are now without him.”
Thing I like about Jordan is his will to win people over. He won over the manager who tried to trade him off. He won over the fans who doubted him as a player & as a captain too, only for them to trend #HendoShuffle
Just like winning ball back, he wins back trust of the people.
Just like winning ball back, he wins back trust of the people.
Not on just on field, off field also Jordan is leader and a winner. His decision to contact fellow Premier League captains to organise a coronavirus fund at a time of crisis tells us such. A brilliant player and a worthy captain, but an equally remarkable human being.
At 30 years of age + a decade of experience Henderson now, is one of the finest midfielder of this decade in the PL & one of finest captains in modern day football. It is a perfectly woven story; a tale only sport can deliver
Here’s to you @JHenderson, The Champion of all.
Here’s to you @JHenderson, The Champion of all.
