Jordan Henderson was a leader, motivator and an engine for Liverpool, but one person who frequently visited Anfield labelled the England international as something else
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Updated 06:44, 21 Jun 2025
Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, speaks with Jordan Henderson of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield on May 03, 2023 in Liverpool, England
Jordan Henderson and Jurgen Klopp enjoyed plenty of success with each other
(Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
In the eyes of many Liverpool fans, Jordan Henderson was an Anfield leader and legend. However, iconic German referee Dr Felix Brych described the England midfielder as a "troublemaker".
Henderson, 34, was often the loudest player on the pitch throughout his time at Liverpool. While his voice was mainly used for barking out instructions and encouragement to his team-mates, he also reserved plenty of noise for the officials.
Brych understands this better than most, having officiated Henderson in Liverpool's European matches. The referee, who hung up the whistle for good at the end of the Bundesliga campaign, offered an insight into what it was like to referee Liverpool when Henderson was wearing the armband.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Brych said: "I got along with all the players very well. 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.
"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."
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 in Liverpool, United Kingdom
Brych was often kept busy by Henderson(Image: 2018 Marc Atkins/Offside)
When quizzed on what the now Ajax midfielder used to say to him, the ex-referee added: "'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."
Brych also remembered his first interaction with Klopp in the early 2000s. While their exchange was pleasant at the time, he had to park any niceties he had with his compatriot so opposing sides didn't think there was any favouritism going on.
He added: "I met Jurgen Klopp in Germany 20 years ago, 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."
Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool FC talking to referee Felix Brych during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid v Liverpool at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on April 6, 2021 in Madrid Spain
Brych had to forget his previous positive interaction with Klopp
Brych walked away from refereeing at the end of the German football season after taking charge of 359 Bundesliga matches. As well as his domestic tally, which is a Bundesliga record, Brych also officiated 69 matches in the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Klopp departed Liverpool at the end of last season after eight years in charge of the Reds. He has since gone on to become the head of global soccer at the Red Bull football franchise, where he has been advising on playing philosophy, scouting and other aspects of the set-up.
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