Jordan Henderson

In 2020, Steven Gerrard said about Henderson, "Teams can't function at Liverpool's level without a cog like Jordan Henderson. He's obviously going to be a Premier League winner. I look at him and think: good for you."

On 7 May 2019, Henderson played through pain after suffering a first half knee injury to captain Liverpool to qualification for their second UEFA Champions League final in as many seasons with a 4–3 aggregate semi-final victory over FC Barcelona, a 4–0 victory on the night. Liverpool began the match with a 3–0 deficit to overcome and key players missing, and the comeback is considered to be one of the best in the history of the competition.

On 1 June 2019, Henderson captained Liverpool in a 2–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final in Madrid, becoming the fifth Liverpool captain to lift the Champions League trophy, the club's sixth overall. Liverpool then followed this up by winning the 2019 UEFA Super Cup, beating Chelsea on penalties.

In December 2019, Henderson led Liverpool to their first FIFA Club World Cup title, making them the only English club to win the treble of continental trophies. After this third trophy in a year, ex-Liverpool player John Aldridge voiced his belief that Henderson should now be regarded as a Liverpool great.

Henderson and his wife Rebecca Burnett have three children. His father Brian, a former policeman and amateur footballer, survived oral cancer during Henderson's early Liverpool career and was able to attend the 2019 Champions League final in Madrid.

Henderson signed a new five-year deal at Liverpool in 2018 after leading the club to its first UEFA Champions League final in over a decade. After signing the contract, Henderson emphasised his intentions to remain at Liverpool for as long as possible and ideally the remainder of his career. On 24 November, Henderson was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in a 3–0 win against Watford, meaning he would miss the Merseyside derby on 2 December.

He was named in the 23-man England national team squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In England's Round of 16 match against Colombia, Henderson was the only Three Lions player to miss a spot-kick as the match went to penalties. England still won though, 4–3, and made it to the semi-finals. The following year, after helping his nation finish third at the inaugural UEFA Nations League and qualify for UEFA Euro 2020, Henderson was named England Player of the Year, in the process becoming the first player to win the award at both U21 and senior level.

Henderson plays as a box-to-box midfielder, although under Klopp he has mostly been used as a defensive midfielder. However, with the arrival of Fabinho in 2018, Henderson moved back to his original "number 8" position closer to the right side of the pitch, a role in which he excels the most. He is widely regarded as a player who works hard and brings energy to the team. Described as an "athletic and hardworking midfielder," Henderson has developed his game during his time at Liverpool into a more creative player. Furthermore, he constantly presses high up the field whenever the opposition is in possession. Besides physical attributes and footballing skills, he has also been praised for his leadership, both on and outside the pitch.

Henderson spent the 2017–18 season as a first team regular, on 23 September 2017 he scored his only goal of the season, a winner against Leicester City in a 3–2 win. On 15 August 2017 Henderson captained Liverpool for the first time in the Champions League against German side Hoffenheim. He would go on to captain Liverpool all the way to the final, ending up on the losing side after Liverpool were beaten 3–1 by Real Madrid in Kiev. Henderson ended the 2017–18 season with 41 appearances in all competitions, scoring 1 goal.

Henderson started the 2016–17 season with regular appearances in the starting eleven and on 16 September scored a spectacular 25-yard strike in a 2–1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The strike earned him the Premier League Goal of the Month award for the month of September. Henderson ended the season with 27 appearances, scoring 1 goal.

Henderson was also selected in the England Euro 2016 squad by Roy Hodgson. He only played one match, playing the full 90 minutes in the final group match against Slovakia which ended 0–0 as England finished second in their group.

Following the departure of Gerrard in June 2015, Henderson was made captain of Liverpool. After aggravating a heel injury Henderson underwent surgery, but broke a bone in his right foot before he could rejoin the starting line-up. It was reported that Henderson's heel problems stemmed from the incurable condition plantar fasciitis. The injury meant that he missed the arrival of manager Jürgen Klopp after Rodgers was sacked.

He returned to first team football on 29 November 2015 against Swansea City. He scored on his first start since his injury, in a 2–2 home draw with West Bromwich Albion on 13 December 2015. A knee injury sustained during Liverpool's Europa League first leg clash with Borussia Dortmund ruled him out until the end of the season. Henderson ended the 2015–16 season with 26 appearances and 2 goals.

On 13 April 2014 he received his first career red card for a dangerous sliding tackle on Samir Nasri in a 3–2 win over Manchester City, resulting in a three match ban which meant he would miss three of Liverpool's last four matches; without Henderson, Liverpool lost 0–2 in a home game against Chelsea and drew 3–3 with Crystal Palace, losing a 3–0 lead in just 15 minutes before the final whistle. Failure to win 3 points in each of those games meant Liverpool had already been succeeded by Manchester City in the first place by the time of Henderson's return from suspension. On 11 May 2014, the final match day of the competition, he started in Liverpool's 2–1 home win over Newcastle United only to finish second as Manchester City claimed the league title in their concurrent game.

Henderson started the 2014–15 season in a good form, providing two assists in Liverpool's first three league matches, and was named as the club's vice-captain following the departure of Daniel Agger. On 29 November, Henderson started as the captain for the first time for Liverpool in the Premier League against Stoke City as Steven Gerrard was an unused substitute. On 2 December, Henderson marked his 150th appearance for the club by scoring the third goal in a 3–1 win against Leicester City to confirm the win. Henderson started many Liverpool matches as captain as Gerrard was out injured or being rested on the bench. On 23 April, Henderson signed a five-year contract extension at Liverpool worth £100,000 a week.

Henderson was selected in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad to travel to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He started in England's opening two World Cup group matches, 2–1 defeats to Italy in Manaus, and Uruguay in São Paulo.

Henderson studied at Farringdon Community Sports College before joining Sunderland as a youngster. He is a Sunderland fan and attended the 2014 League Cup Final with the Sunderland fans, while being a player at Liverpool. On the same day as being named Liverpool captain, it was announced he would also be featuring alongside Lionel Messi on the cover of the UK edition of FIFA 16.

Henderson established himself as a regular member of the Liverpool team in the 2013–14 season, playing in 35 Premier League matches and scoring 5 goals. On 29 September 2013, he made his 100th appearance for the club as Liverpool won 1–3 at Sunderland.

In August 2012, Henderson was told he could be joining Fulham by new manager Brendan Rodgers, but this was rejected by the player. He went on to score his first European goal for Liverpool on 6 December 2012, with the winner against Udinese in the UEFA Europa League as the Reds qualified for the last 32.

Initially named as a standby player, Henderson was called up to the England Euro 2012 squad to replace the injured Frank Lampard. He featured in England's first match of the tournament against France, coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute for Scott Parker, and again featured as a substitute, coming on during extra-time, in England's quarter-final penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy.

Henderson was a major part of the team during the 2010–11 season making 39 appearances and scoring 3 goals, including his first league double, on 23 April at home to Wigan Athletic. On 13 January 2011, Henderson was listed on the official FIFA website as one of 13 young players to watch in 2011. He was named Sunderland's Young Player of the Year for the second season running.

On 9 June 2011, Henderson was transferred to Liverpool for an undisclosed fee thought to be between £16 and £20 million. He made his debut in Liverpool's first match of the 2011–12 Premier League, a 1–1 draw against his former club Sunderland where he was given a mixed reception by Sunderland fans. On 27 August 2011, Henderson scored his first goal for Liverpool in a Premier League fixture at Anfield against Bolton Wanderers. On 26 February 2012, Henderson started on the right of midfield in Liverpool's 2012 League Cup Final victory over Cardiff City before being substituted in the 58th minute. On 5 May, he played the full 90 minutes as Liverpool were beaten 2–1 by Chelsea in the 2012 FA Cup Final. Henderson ended the 2011–12 season with two goals from 44 appearances.

Henderson was selected in the England U21 squad for the 2011 European Championships. However, England were knocked out in the group stage. He captained the England U21 team in a 6–0 win over Azerbaijan U21 on 1 September 2011, scoring one goal in the Euro 2013 qualifier. He then scored his fourth under-21 goal in a 2–1 win away at Norway, maintaining England's 100% record in Euro 2013 qualification. On 3 February 2013, Henderson was named the England U21 Player of the Year in the inaugural year of the award. He captained the under-21 team at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

At international level, Henderson has appeared for England more than 50 times since making his debut in 2010. He has appeared for the team at four international tournaments, the 2012 and 2016 UEFA European Championships, and the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups. He has won the England Player of the Year award twice, both at U-21 and senior level making him the first English player to do so.

Henderson spent the majority of the season on the right side of midfield but played centrally in the absence of Lee Cattermole; his versatility and consistency earning him a new five-year contract on 23 April 2010, keeping him with the club until 2015. He also went on to win the Sunderland Young Player of the Year award for the 2009–10 season.

On 11 November 2010, Henderson was omitted from England's U21 squad for their friendly with Germany, instead receiving his first call up to the senior England squad on 17 November 2010 for their friendly against France. He made his debut in the match, playing from the start in central midfield alongside Steven Gerrard.

In January 2009, Henderson joined Championship club Coventry City on a one-month loan deal. He made his Coventry debut in a 2–1 defeat to Derby County. Henderson's loan to Coventry was extended until the end of the season, and he scored the first senior goal of his career on 28 February 2009 against Norwich City. After picking up an injury, a fracture to the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot, he returned to Sunderland in April 2009.

In the 2009–10 season, Henderson broke into the Sunderland first team and made 33 Premier League appearances. He scored his first senior goal for the club against Birmingham City in the League Cup third round. He then went on to score his first Premier League goal against Manchester City on 19 December 2009.

Henderson made his debut for the under-19s against the Czech Republic in 2009, before breaking into Stuart Pearce's under-21 squad. He scored his first goal in an England shirt in the European U21 Championship play-offs against Romania, hitting a volley from outside the box to give England the lead.

Born in Sunderland, Henderson joined Sunderland A.F.C. at the age of 18, making his first team debut in November 2008. He spent six months on loan at Coventry City in 2009 before returning to Sunderland. In 2011 he joined Liverpool for an undisclosed fee, making his debut in August 2011, and has since made over 250 appearances for the club. His first trophy at the club came in 2012 when he won the League Cup. In 2015 he was made captain, and has since led the club to European victory, winning the 2018–19 Champions League, UEFA Super Cup. He also became the first Liverpool captain to win the FIFA Club World Cup as Liverpool beat Brazilian side Flamengo in the final.

Henderson was born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, and joined the youth system of his hometown club Sunderland aged eight. He signed a professional contract with the club on 1 July 2008. He made his league debut on 1 November 2008 in a 5–0 away defeat to Chelsea coming on as a half-time substitute. He then made his first Sunderland start and home debut against Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup the following month.

Jordan Brian Henderson (born 17 June 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Liverpool, whom he captains, and the England national team.