Henderson named Liverpool captain
Jordan Henderson has today been officially confirmed as Liverpool Football Club’s new captain.
The Reds midfielder takes the armband permanently as he prepares to begin his fifth season with the club and head out on tour to Asia and Australia this weekend.
Henderson takes over from the iconic Steven Gerrard who held the post since 2003, when he took over from Sami Hyypia. Henderson taking the captaincy ends what has been a truly amazing turnaround for the Sunderland-born midfielder.
Henderson joined Liverpool in the summer of 2011 and was quickly seen as a scapegoat for the Reds’ poor form under Kenny Dalglish. Despite the poor league form, Henderson helped Liverpool win the league cup later that season, and reach the FA Cup final, which Liverpool lost to Chelsea.
In the summer of 2012 Brendan Rodgers tried to sell Henderson to Fulham in a makeweight for Clint Dempsey, yet Henderson refused to move, wanting to prove his worth for the Anfield club.
The following three years have seen Henderson become a mainstay for Liverpool in central midfield, wherein he has added goals and assists to his ever-widening array of talents. What will always be at the forefront of his game though, is an unrelenting drive to keep improving.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com He said: “I’m absolutely delighted and proud. It is a great honour and a huge privilege to be named as the captain of this football club.
“When Steven [Gerrard] wasn’t in the team last season, I tried to do the best I could when I stepped in and took the armband. Now I’ll be looking to carry that on and continue to grow as a captain.
“I’ll look to give my best all of the time, put the team firmly first and try to give them – or help them with – whatever they need from me.”
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Meanwhile the manager explained: “Jordan is someone who leads through example – through his actions, attitude and application. He shows total commitment to the game and is a role model professional.
“Jordan has grown as a person and as a player since arriving at Liverpool and is ready to take up this challenge” – Brendan Rodgers
“He is also greatly respectful of the great traditions associated with being Liverpool captain and the responsibilities that come with it. He has been blessed to learn first-hand from one of the greatest the club has ever had, in Steven Gerrard.
“Jordan has grown as a person and as a player since arriving at Liverpool and is ready to take up this challenge. He will be his own person, with his own style of leadership and his own ideas and methods.”
