Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has opened about his experience of signing for Liverpool and described the event as ‘surreal’. The Englishman arrived at Anfield, from Sunderland, in a £16m deal in 2011 and has firmly established his credentials, eventually earning the captain’s armband after the departure of the legendary Steven Gerrard.
He also revealed that the chance to share a dressing room with one of his idols, Steven Gerrard was a huge factor. The Liverpool captain named Gerrard and his father as key influences on his career.
Writing in The Players’ Tribune, Henderson said: “Moving clubs is part of the game. In June 2011, I got a call from an official at Sunderland while I was having lunch with my girlfriend and some mates. On the call, they told me that a deal with Liverpool had been agreed on, and that I should head down that way to agree on personal terms.”
“A few hours later, my dad and I were in the car driving down the M6 to Liverpool. We got in late and the next morning I was at Melwood. By the afternoon, I was officially a Liverpool player. It was kind of surreal.”
He also revealed why he chose to join Liverpool amidst interest from a lot of other teams.
He said: “One of the reasons Liverpool was significant to me was because it meant sharing a dressing room with Steven Gerrard. He was my favourite England player when I was growing up. He has also been a big influence on my career, first of all from afar and watching him on TV and then even more so when I got to know him properly.
“It was a bit strange at first being around Stevie — he was such a big player for both Liverpool and England. However, he’s the kind of person who makes you feel relaxed pretty quickly. Before long being around him was completely normal, and he was a great person to learn from day to day at the club.
He also described the moment when he got his first England call-up and how he was informed via text about his inclusion in the England team, and says that he was excited and also nervous at the same time.
He added: “I’d actually already played alongside him on my England debut against France in 2010. I was still with Sunderland at the time, and I remember getting the text to let me know that I was going to be called up to the squad – it was a Friday night and I was in a hotel in London because we were playing Chelsea the next day.
“I felt excited, but also a bit nervous, to be joining up for the first time with some of those big players. But I loved every minute of being in the squad, getting involved in training and spending time as part of the group. After the match, I felt disappointed by the loss, but most of all motivated — motivated to do all I could to keep my place in the squad and show what I was capable of.”
He revealed that even though he is a seasoned international and captain of Liverpool, his dad always has something to say, especially if he’s had a good game. Henderson also credited his father for helping him out from a very young age and said that his father has been there with him in every important step of his career. Hendo says that he and his father sit down and talk about football whenever there is anything important to be discussed.
Jordan said: “If there’s one person who has been with me every step of the way, from the back garden to where I am now, it would be my dad. He’ll still get in touch now and again after a match — he’ll talk less about me but more about the team’s performance and the game in general.
“At the right times he can be critical, just because he has always wanted me to improve, to do even better. In fact, he probably has more to say after I’ve had a good game than after I’ve not done so well. If he’s critical then I know I’ve done all right. It’s a bit of a contradiction!”
Henderson’s dad was also present for his first ever organised football match – a moment which ended in tears!
The Reds captain said: “It would have been at the age of around six that my dad brought me along to my first youth match. But things didn’t quite go as planned. I came on at halftime, but then just ran off the pitch and ended up in tears! To be honest to this day I have no idea why. I didn’t hate football. I loved kicking the ball around, but I suppose when I got into a proper match I didn’t know what to do and I panicked.”
Jordan Henderson has been phenomenal for Liverpool this season and Liverpool have been lucky to have been coping with the Reds captain’s current injury lay-off.
Hopefully, Jordan Henderson gets back to fitness soon.
