With Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson being named on the shortlist for the 2020 Sports Personality of the Year; I wanted to write the story of the remarkable rise of the Reds skipper, so as promised; here it is.

In the 1989/90 season, Liverpool secured their 18th league title; two months later Jordan Henderson was born, and then 30 years later he would captain the club to their 19th title. This extends an impressive 12 months for the Sunderland-born lad. He has amassed the Champions League, World Club Cup and European Super Cup winners medals to display alongside his Premier League one.

It was in June 2011, that 20-year-old Jordan Henderson was signed for a Liverpool side, in a never ending cycle of transition. Breaking into the first team and earning the respect of the Liverpool faithful, would prove a tough challenge. Few saw him as the future club captain, let alone leading the team to Premier League success.

After a turbulent first season with Liverpool, Henderson would find himself close to being offloaded to Fulham by new manager Brendan Rodgers in 2012. The England international refused to be sold and this moment acted as an early indicator of Henderson’s never-say-die attitude which is clearly evident today. He continued to persevere and improve. Declining the Fulham move would prove a blessing to both Hendo and the club.

Henderson had a now infamous training ground ‘bust-up’ with Luis Suarez. Suarez was responsible for pushing Henderson,to breaking point after a training ground altercation at Melwood. Henderson stood his ground and in doing so; earned not only the respect of Suarez but many of the senior pros’s. It signalled not only a maturity of Henderson, but a hard-working mentality that defined values of grit, determination and heart.

In the 2013-14 season, the Reds charged for their first premier league title in 24 years. Of course, this was dented by Henderson’s late challenge on Man City’s Samir Nasri,, which resulted in the English international receiving a red card. The consequence meant that the Liverpool midfielder, would miss crucial games against Chelsea and Crystal Palace where his presence would have been key.

With Steven Gerrard’s departure from Liverpool confirmed in June 2015; Henderson was named Liverpool captain. Replacing an icon of Gerrard’s status and carrying on his legacy would be near impossible. Yet, this passing of the torch was imperative in sowing the seeds for Henderson’s ascent and Jurgen Klopp’s era at Liverpool.

Taking over from Rodgers in October 2015, charismatic German manager Jurgen Klopp entered the Liverpool family with a simple message to everyone: ‘Liverpool had to change from doubters to believers’. Klopp has revolutionised Liverpool’s playing style and the player who has arguably benefited the most from this, is captain Henderson. Under Klopp, Henderson has transformed into a box-to-box engine capable of exerting control in the midfield areas. Not blessed with the prolific goal scoring ability of Gerrard, however he does possess a phenomenal range of passing, a superb reading of the game and a prowess to take control and dominate matches.

In May 2018, saw Henderson captain a new-look Liverpool side to the UEFA Champions League Final, with the deadly ‘red arrows’ leading the line (Mane, Firmino and Salah). Agonizingly , they were defeated 3-1 by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid. However, the pain of Kiev would turn to elation in Madrid one year later. The skipper led the Reds to their sixth Champions League triumph, overcoming a spirited Spurs side in a 2-0 win. Henderson’s never-say-die attitude was yet again showcased ,when he grinded through the pain from a first-half knock to lead his team to a miraculous 4-0 victory over Messi’s Barcelona; a match I will never forget! Klopp’s Liverpool edged into the final ,in arguably the most majestic comeback in European history. An unforgettable captain’s performance on an unforgettable night under the Anfield floodlights.

Success in the Champions League and a dominant 97-point runners-up league season marked the beginning of something special. In the 2019/20 season, Klopp and Henderson guided the side to the club’s fourth UEFA Super Cup, an English record. A gruelling campaign, where the Reds won eight of their nine games played in December, including two wins in Qatar which saw them win the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in their history. The team overcame their biggest challenge of the season, with the demanding festive schedule. Henderson’s hard-working mentality was highlighted as he powered through 292 minutes of game time in the space of eight days; to not only lead his team to Club World Cup success, but also a convincing 4-0 victory away at title rivals Leicester.

Amassing 99 points, Liverpool deservedly won their first Premier League trophy, with a record number of games remaining (7). No team stood a chance and, this was finally Liverpool’s year. And Henderson, regardless of injury, was present to perform the signature ‘Hendo-shuffle’ before lifting the coveted trophy to ease 30 years of hurt. It was a satisfying moment for the Liverpool family, especially the captain, who after years of persistence, has finally earned the respect of the Liverpool faithful. His efforts for the team were deservedly recognised, being crowned LWA Player of the Year for his stellar performances last season.

Superstars of the team such as Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been instrumental in the development of the Klopp dynasty. However, one cannot deny that Henderson has played a significant part in the growth of this side. Before the June restart, Liverpool’s win percentage in all competitions this season with the skipper playing was a staggering 80%, compared to just 61.5% without him. Henderson’s influence in the team is defined simply, by his presence on the pitch.

This season will go down in history as one of the most chaotic; that supporters have ever witnessed due to COVID-19. The virus, which resulted in the league’s suspension for over three months, has tormented the world for the majority of 2020. The Liverpool captain has been instrumental in efforts to combat COVID-19, displaying his leadership mindset both on and off the pitch. In April, it was announced that Henderson was organising a coronavirus fund, approaching fellow Premier League captains, for the sake of raising millions of pounds for the NHS during these unprecedented times. Henderson has utilised his role as Liverpool captain to become an unquestionably positive inspiration for his country.

The Jordan Henderson Mural was unveiled in Liverpool a few months back, with the words: ‘Anything is possible, never stop believing.’ If there’s anything the career of Jordan Henderson has taught us so far, it is those exact six words.

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