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Jordan Henderson – The Next Captain of Liverpool Football Club

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Jordan is ideal to take over from Stevie as captain

Jordan is ideal to take over from Stevie as captain

Last season saw many Liverpool players come of age as they came close to winning the Premier League. Players like Daniel Sturridge, Phillipe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling showed exactly how good they are now, with glimpses of how great they will become.

However, the one who stood out for me the most was Jordan Henderson. By the end of last season he had become one of, if not the most important player on Liverpool’s team sheet.

I have always been a huge fan of the Mackem and knew he would always be a good Liverpool player.

As he scored the fourth goal in the brilliant win over Tottenham last season the Kop sang his name as loud as they ever have, it would have been an amazing feeling for the Sunderland born midfielder.

When Henderson made a reported £20million move from Wearside to Merseyside at the age of 20 plenty of people questioned whether Liverpool were throwing money away and saying that Henderson was worth nowhere near the reported fee.

His first appearance for Liverpool came against his former club on this first day of the 2011/12 season and understandably it would have felt strange for Henderson and he nearly got a goal on his debut.

In Henderson’s first season he made 48 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice and winning his first piece of silver-ware as a professional footballer. He also ended the season as an FA Cup runner-up.

He has now had three seasons at Liverpool with over 130 appearances for the The Reds and 13 goals.  It is now looking like brilliant business paying £20million for Henderson and it feels like he is on his way to being the next Liverpool captain once Steven Gerrard hangs up his boots.

Despite people only now starting to stop questioning the price tag of the Liverpool midfielder he has been in excellent form under Brendan Rodgers, a man who tried to sell him on deadline day of 2012 to bring Clint Dempsey in from Fulham.

What did Henderson do? Did he just accept his Liverpool career was over after one season? Did he sulk in a corner or come out and slate the manager? Did he just sit in the reserves because he wasn’t in Rodgers plans?

Well the answer is simply, no. What Henderson did was speak to Rodgers and say he would prove his worth as a Liverpool player, stating he wanted to play for The Reds and play in the Champions League.

His attitude has been perfect ever since he stepped foot in Melwood and his form has been impeccable over the past 18 months. You can see that he wants to play at the top level and he deserves to because he is an exceptional, underrated footballer.

Credit has to be given to Rodgers who accepted that Henderson wouldn’t be leaving and his man-management has rubbed off on the number 14 and all the other players.

Last season Sturridge and Suarez were dazzling at times but for me Henderson was the most consistent Liverpool player and if he was not sent off against Manchester City we would probably be going into the new season as champions.

Henderson has played for Liverpool in Europe on 10 occasions but will be experiencing Europe’s elite competition for the first time next season.

The 23-year-old has a long time left in his career and though he has captained Liverpool in a pre-season friendly, if he continues to play the way he is then the armband will be permanently on his arm in the future.

Even without the armband, along with Gerrard he is a leader on the pitch and is very vocal.

He has a great understanding of the game and when you watch him live you realise just how good he is.

When the day comes for Gerrard to retire then the next captain is currently playing alongside him in the Liverpool midfield.

The day that Steven Gerrard finishes his career at Liverpool will be an emotional day because of what he has done for the club, but that day should be the day the responsibility is given to Henderson.

That day is still a few years away because Gerrard has reinvented himself as a holding midfielder under Rodgers and this gives time for Henderson to continue to grow as a Liverpool player and also learn more from the current skipper.

In two years’ time Henderson will be 25 with plenty of years of top class football ahead of him and he would have yet to hit his prime.

Steven Gerrard became Liverpool captain at the age of 22.

I am not going to write that Jordan Henderson is the next Steven Gerrard or even compare their games in detail, but there are plenty of similarities in their games that suggests the Mackem is ready to become the next skipper of Liverpool Football Club

Around 18 months ago I was asked the question by a Liverpool fan that I go to the away games with: “Could Jordan Henderson one day captain Liverpool?”

My reply was: “He may not be our captain but he will be a huge player for us for years to come.”

If I was asked that question now my answer would be: “He is going to be huge for us and he will be our captain once Gerrard hangs up his boots.”

As Gerrard was growing into the Liverpool side as a youngster he was played in different positions that helped him become the complete midfielder he is today. He played right back, right midfield, holding midfield, attacking midfield and also in the central of midfield, where he has dominated games for the past 15 years.

Under Kenny Dalglish, Henderson played in all the same roles to help him develop his game and now you see the two of them playing together in midfield controlling games every week.

During Dalglish’s reign people kept asking what Henderson’s position was and for anyone who had seen him play at Sunderland they would know it was in the heart of the midfield.

A lot of Liverpool fan’s understood why Dalglish played him all the different positions and it has paid off, he has even slotted in at right wing back under Rodgers last season.

When Gerrard was out injured earlier in the season Suarez was handed the captaincy and was at his brilliant best as always.

But, it was The Reds number 14 who stood out the most and put in plenty of Gerrard-like displays, most notably in the 5-0 win at White Hart Lane.

In the past year there has been a huge increase of responsibility in the media from Henderson, an example being when he was banned, he was the player doing the interviews with BT, Sky, etc.

He has handled the media brilliantly, showing that he can handle the pressure of being in the spotlight at a huge football club – this is the biggest sign off the pitch that he is a suited captain of Liverpool Football Club in the future.

Jordan Henderson is an exceptional footballer and would be a great captain for Liverpool in a team that is heading back just its glory days of the past.

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12 comments

  • Jordan Cashen says:

    Agree 100%

  • Nigerian Koprince says:

    Hendo needs 2 more years to wear the band. If he is consistent and keep improving with shots and setpieces, then he is a top candidate for it.. Walk On Hendo #YNWA

  • me says:

    Now I’m not going to go into detail with this, but Sakho reminds me of a certain Daniel Agger…. Vice Capt?

  • isaac ssali says:

    No know English player they just av form for short time but not class next two yrs from now no more and u av seen him at world cup struggling,just running from one point but not creating any pass not even scoring even one goal.he is good in talking but football wise is not going far he is just midteam player not top player

    • liverpool says:

      You are watching back of television.. That is why u re saying dat about henderson..

  • Baraki says:

    I agree this ideas(Hend.YNWA)

  • Baraki says:

    Henderson he is well trained,untired and experienced player (Hend. Congratulation) “YNWA”

  • justine says:

    Hendo..keep going…we love you

  • Allweather says:

    Hendo watching him play gives me joy he is ingen room for liverpool last season i love him.

  • isahrafi says:

    we are happy with that news congratulation[henderson]

  • Roger says:

    LFC needs players like Hendo. Plays for the team and willing to learn more. Unselfish in attack and brave enough to help the defence. Hendo deserves to be LFC captain soon.

  • TaintlessRed says:

    Hendo is the front runner and Sakho the only other one who could be considered. We’ve got other young players who may become great players but don’t think any of them have the same leadership potential. Of the even younger players who are yet to prove themselves Wisdom and Coady have potential.

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