Jordan Henderson is Liverpool’s captain and their engine in the midfield. From being asked to leave the club to being made the captain and lifting the Champion’s League trophy, Henderson’s journey has been incredible.
Here are some facts about the Liverpool captain you should know:
1. The boyhood Sunderland fan
Jordan Brian Henderson was born on 17 June 1990 in Sunderland, England. Naturally, he grew up as a fan of his hometown club Sunderland AFC. Sunderland is a major club in England and has been a part of the Premier League often.
Henderson joined their youth academy at the tender age of eight and spent the next ten years there, before signing a professional contract on 1st July 2008. Henderson made his first-team debut for Sunderland on 1st November 2008 in a 5-0 defeat against Chelsea, coming on as a half time substitute.
2. Main man from a young age
After making his debut for Sunderland in November 2008, Henderson was sent on loan to Coventry City in January 2009 and returned in April. The following season, Henderson broke into the first team and made 33 Premier League appearances. His consistent performances and versatility earned him the Young Player of the Year award for Sunderland and a 5-year contract. The following season, 2010-2011, he made 39 appearances in the entire season. His performances got him listed as one of the 13 young players to watch out for by FIFA and Sunderland’s Young Player of the Year award for the second season in a row.
His performances caught Liverpool’s attention and they signed him on 9th June 2011. He was a regular feature in their team and his performances earned him the Young Player of the Year for Liverpool too. This was his third time winning this award in a row with his second club. He also won England’s U21 player of the year in 2012.
3. From being unwanted to becoming captain
Henderson was brought to Liverpool by Kenny Dalglish. After he left, Brendan Rodgers was appointed as Liverpool’s manager in June 2012. Rodgers, in August 2012, told Henderson that he will be joining Fulham. But Henderson refused the transfer and decided to stay at Liverpool. He got limited playing time that season but established himself as a regular from the following season.
With his performances and leadership, he earned the position of Liverpool’s vice-captain after Daniel Agger’s departure. After Steven Gerrard retired, Henderson was named as Liverpool’s captain in 2015.
4. One man multiple positions
Henderson is a complete midfielder. He has played in almost every position in the midfield for the different teams he has played. He played as a right-sided midfielder for Sunderland as a youngster. He then switched to an attacking midfielder role.
For Liverpool, he started playing as a number 8 in the midfield and as of now, plays as their deepest midfielder or defensive midfielder. His versatility has made him a very important player for Liverpool. In 2020, Steven Gerrard said about Henderson, “Teams can’t function at Liverpool’s level without a cog-like Jordan Henderson.”
5. His father is his inspiration
Brian Henderson, Jordan’s father, was a policeman and an amateur footballer. His father suffered from oral cancer for a long time. Watching his father fight the terrible disease made Henderson strong and kept him motivated in life. His father inspired him to play football as a kid.
In the 2019 Champion’s League Final, Henderson’s father was in the stands and he watched his lift the trophy for Liverpool. After the final, a very proud and beaming Brian Henderson said in an interview, “When he was 10 I took him to see a Champions League final at Man United, and he said when they came out with the Champions League music, ‘dad, I’m going to play there one day’. He’s done it, not only once, but twice, and now he’s won one. Delighted for him.”
6. Jordan Henderson net worth, salary, and market value.
As of 2020, Jordan Henderson is worth 32 million dollars. He earns a salary of 7.28 million pounds a year which is 140 thousand pounds a week. The midfielder has a market value of 30 million pounds
7. Brand endorsements
Jordan Henderson is signed to Nike and wears their shoes on the field. He has featured in a lot of Nike events and has been endorsing the brand since their Tiempo range of shoes. He also featured on the cover of FIFA 16’s UK edition alongside Lionel Messi.
8. Which cars does Henderson drive?
Henderson owns many luxury cars. He has been seen driving cars such as Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes-Benz S Class, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Vogue, and an Audi Q7.
9. Personal Life and Family
Henderson is married to Rebecca Burnett. They have 2 daughters named Elexa & Alba and a son. Henderson has the birth-dates of his daughters tattooed on his body and he also has a tattoo of the Champions League trophy with the date on which Liverpool won the trophy on his left thigh.
10. In the fight against Corona
England is one of the worst affected countries by the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the healthcare workers of the NHS are working day and night to help those infected. Henderson, as captain of Liverpool, contacted fellow Premier League captains to organize a coronavirus fund that would raise millions of pounds for the NHS. His idea was for the Premier League footballers to contribute to a fund for frontline NHS workers.
