Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson previously admitted to getting emotional after learning about a transfer decision during his time at Anfield
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson has previously recalled his reaction to a Liverpool transfer decision
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Jordan Henderson may have left Liverpool in 2023 but his Anfield career could have ended much sooner. The midfielder was signed from Sunderland as a highly-rated prospect, though Henderson quickly found himself out of favour under former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers.
The 35-year-old eventually became the first Liverpool captain to lift the Premier League trophy, ending the club’s 30-year wait for a league title, and made 492 appearances for the Reds. However, his 12-year association with Liverpool almost came to an end after a single season.
In 2012, Rodgers succeeded Kenny Dalglish as manager and the former Swansea City boss soon reunited with midfielder Joe Allen at Anfield. The arrival of Allen, combined with Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva’s presence in the squad, led Rodgers to inform Henderson that he was free to leave the club if he wished to do so, with Fulham among the teams interested.
While Henderson appreciated his manager’s honesty, he later admitted that the news had driven him to tears. Undeterred, Henderson decided to stay and fight for his place, eventually being named Gerrard’s successor as Liverpool captain three years later.
"I can remember it like it was yesterday," Henderson told BT Sport in 2022. "It was just before we played Hearts at Anfield, and we had a game on the night. I had a conversation with Brendan at the hotel the day of the game – and to be fair to Brendan he sort of gave me the option. It was more the club that was willing to let me go.
"Brendan said, ‘Listen, it’s down to you, you’re not going to be starting as much as what you’d have liked but I’ll try to help you improve on what I need you to improve on. You’re still young, and if you do that then maybe you get more game time as time goes on.’
"So basically I went back to my room, cried a little bit and was devastated really, but from that moment on I just tried to… It wasn’t really an option for me to leave, because I hadn’t been at the club very long, and I’d worked extremely hard to get there."
Jordan Henderson and Brendan Rodgers
Henderson recalled what Brendan Rodgers told him about his Liverpool prospects in 2012
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Following his decision to stay, Henderson dedicated himself to convincing his manager. It was Henderson’s drive to improve that saw him remain a fundamental part of the team under Jurgen Klopp, guiding the club to multiple major honours.
"I said straight away, ‘Listen, I ain’t going anywhere, I’ll do everything I can to get in your team and I’ll prove people wrong,’" Henderson recalled to BT Sport.
"From that moment, every day in the gym I’d give everything, every day on the training pitch I’d give everything. Just focus on myself, how I can improve, how I can be better. Brendan helped us a lot tactically [and] I really think back then I could improve a lot tactically - I was good at box-to-box, I was very physical and decent technically, but the tactical elements I wasn’t really taught that much, especially of what Brendan wanted.
Jordan Henderson lifts the Premier League trophy
Henderson captained Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2020
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"He brought me into his office, sat me down, showed… where he wanted us with and without the ball. I felt that helped massively, helped me understand football even more, and from that moment on I just grew in confidence as time went on."
Henderson emerged as a Liverpool legend through his subsequent performances under Klopp, becoming a Premier League and Champions League-winning captain. However, he was heavily criticised for his decision to join Al-Ettifaq in 2023 and left the Saudi Arabian side after less than six months at the club.
After a short spell at Ajax, Henderson has demonstrated his enduring Premier League quality since signing for Brentford this summer. The 35-year-old is part of Thomas Tuchel’s current England squad and will hope to feature in the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifier against Albania on Sunday.