Introduction

Hello readers! Welcome back to another EPL-related blog. Today is my dad’s birthday, so I have decided to take a suggestion from him for once for today’s topic. For context, my dad is a huge Liverpool fan, so naturally, one of his favorite players is Liverpool’s captain and star box-to-box midfielder Jordan Henderson.

I believe Henderson is underrated by the media and most football fans as he is not the type of player to pitch in with a goal or an assist often. However, his work ethic and dedication to his team is outstanding, and he puts in at least a 7/10 performance every game. To rectify Henderon’s lack of coverage, I will cover his career so far in today’s blogpost.

Early Career

Henderson was born in Sunderland, England, and he joined his hometown’s youth team, Sunderland Football Club, at age eight. When he turned 19, Henderson signed his first professional for Sunderland, and was subsequently loaned out to Championship club Conventry City in the second half of the following season.

Although Henderson only spent less than half the season at Coventry due to injury, he became a fixture in Sunderland’s midfield for the following two seasons. Henderson scored his first EPL goal against Manchester City in the 2009-2010 season. Henderson had a breakthrough debut season and was named Sunderland’s Young Player of the Year (he would also win this award the following season).

On the international level, Henderson made his first international appearance against France on November 17, 2020. Henderson partnered his future Liverpool mentor and captain Steven Gerrard in the midfield that game.

Liverpool (Rodgers era)

Henderon’s performances in Sunderland’s midfield caught the eye of Liverpool, who signed him for around £20 million on June 9, 2011. Ironically, Henderson’s EPL debut for Liverpool was against his former boyhood club Sunderland. That season, Henderson won his first senior trophy in a League Cup victory against Cardiff City (Henderson only played around 60 minutes though before being substituted). Liverpool also made the FA Cup Final that same season, and although Henderson played the full 90, they lost to Chelsea.

The 2013-2014 season was Henderon’s breakthrough for Liverpool as he started 35 games and scored 5 goals. With Henderson an everpresent name in the starting XI, Liverpool challenged for the title until the very end of the season. Henderson also made a breakthrough into England’s national team by being a part of the 23-player squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He started two matches in the group stage with England bowing out in disappointing fashion.

The following season, Henderson made his Champions League debut and became Liverpools vice-captain. With Steven Gerrard out injured or on the bench (this would be his last season for the club), Henderson became Liverpool’s defacto captain.

Liverpool (Klopp era)

After Gerrard left the club, Liverpool fired manager Brendan Rodgers and replaced him with Jurgen Klopp for the 2015-2016. However, now-captain Henderson struggled with heal and knee injuries for most of the season, and his fight for fitness made him a non-factor for Liverpool.

Not known for the spectacular, Henderson score a worldie of a goal against Chelsea in a 2016 EPL match:

This strike from Henderson would win him EPL Goal of the Month for September.

In the 2017-2018 season, Henderson took Liverpool also the way to the UEFA Champions League Final where they lost to Real Madrid. The following season, Liverpool made it to the Champions League Final again but this time won against fellow EPL side Tottenham Hotspurs. Henderson captained Liverpool to this trophy for the first time since Steven Gerrard in 2005. As a starting midfielder, Henderson also helped take England to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in France, their best performance since 1990.

What was miraculous was that even though Henderson was carrying a major a major knee injury, Liverpool were missing key players for the second match, and they were down 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League semfinals against Barcelona, Henderson spurred on his team to win 4-0 to somehow take Liverpool to the final.

But the trophies didn’t end there. Henderson led Liverpool to their first league title in 30 years when Liverpool finished first in the EPL by more than 28 points over the second-placed side, Manchester City, in a season whose finish was threatened by the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. Liverpool also won the FIFA Club World Cup. On an individual level, Henderson was named the FWA Football of Year and PFA Player of the Year for his historic role and success as Liverpool’s captain.

Conclusion and Easter Egg

It is clear that Jordan Henderson is a legendary player and captain for Liverpool. And that is why I got my dad this Henderson jersey for his birthday.