Jordan Henderson will be remembered by some of his past opponents as a menace to play against, but it wasn't only those playing who were affected by the former Liverpool captain
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Jordan Henderson captain of Liverpool looking at Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool during a training session on July 17, 2023
Ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been labelled a "troublemaker"
(Image: Andrew Powell, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson was revered by the Anfield faithful as a leader with a legendary stature at the club. Celebrated German referee Dr Felix Brych, on the other hand, had quite the different take on the England midfielder after labelling him a "troublemaker."
Throughout his time donning Liverpool's red, Henderson was often noted as the most vocal presence on the pitch. His booming commands and motivational shouting towards team-mates were matched only by his fervent dialogues with match officials.
Dr Brych, well-acquainted with the challenge of officiating Henderson in Europe, recently called time on his career refereeing at the elite level. And he shed some light on his experiences overseeing games at Anfield when Henderson was captaining the club.
"I got along with all the players very well," he told talkSPORT (via the Mirror) last year. "But in every game there was always my troublemaker.
"Looking back on many games at Anfield with Liverpool, when I saw Jordan Henderson, I knew I had to keep an eye on him. He was talking all throughout the game."
And he wasn't the only Liverpool player who put Brych on edge as he added: "Also, James Milner. Sometimes he was quiet, sometimes he was talking a lot and like you do, you talk in a different way. In Germany, talking is much more aggressive. In England you talk in a different way, I knew that before the game.
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Jordan Henderson of Liverpool confronts Referee Dr. Felix Brych after the final whistle during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg match between Liverpool and A.S. Roma at Anfield on April 24, 2018
Dr Brych noted the difference between how players treat the official in Germany and England
(Image: 2018 Marc Atkins/Offside)
"'Come on, it's not a foul. You can do it in Germany, but in England we want to let the game flow.' It was always this kind of trash talk. But I liked it, and I got used to it. It was fun and games."
Milner was one of the elder statesmen at Anfield and could always be relied upon to get in the ref's ear when required. Brych also recalled meeting Jurgen Klopp in Germany long ago and how their rapport changed over time.
Specifically, he noted how he had to check himself in order to ensure he avoided giving his compatriot favourable decisions. "I met Jurgen Klopp in Germany 20 years ago," he explained.
"But in England it was a different relationship with him. If you know someone better than the others, they think you might favour them. I cannot give any kind of bonus to anybody."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaks to referee Dr. Felix Brych
Jurgen Klopp never received any favours off Brych(Image: Getty)
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The esteemed ref hung up his whistle after the conclusion of the German football season, bringing the curtain down on an impressive career that saw him oversee 359 Bundesliga matches. His domestic total is a record in the league, and he also managed 69 Champions League fixtures.
He oversaw Real Madrid's win over Juventus in the 2017 Champions League final, as well as Sevilla's Europa League final triumph over Benfica in 2014. On top of that, he was also a prominent part of the Euro 2020 knockout stage fixtures, including Italy's semi-final win over Spain before they clinched the title.
Klopp, on the other hand, left Liverpool after a remarkable eight-year tenure at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. He has transitioned into his new role as the head of global football for Red Bull, where he provides guidance on various strategic areas, including playing philosophy and scouting.