Liverpool announced today that Jordan Henderson will take over the captain duties on a permanent basis from this season. The 25 year-old replaces Steven Gerrard who left his boyhood club, and has joined LA Galaxy.
Henderson was visibly delighted even though he seemed the obvious choice after the club appointed him as vice-captain last season after Daniel Agger was sold. He said, “I’m absolutely delighted and proud. It is a great honour and a huge privilege to be named as the captain of this football club.
“When Steven [Gerrard] wasn’t in the team last season, I tried to do the best I could when I stepped in and took the armband. Now I’ll be looking to carry that on and continue to grow as a captain.
“I’ll look to give my best all of the time, put the team firmly first and try to give them – or help them with – whatever they need from me.”
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Brendan Rodgers also heaped praise on Henderson and explained the former Sunderland midfielder’s appointment.
“Jordan is someone who leads through example – through his actions, attitude and application. He shows total commitment to the game and is a role model professional,” said Rodgers
“He is also greatly respectful of the great traditions associated with being Liverpool captain and the responsibilities that come with it. He has been blessed to learn first-hand from one of the greatest the club has ever had, in Steven Gerrard.
“Jordan has grown as a person and as a player since arriving at Liverpool and is ready to take up this challenge. He will be his own person, with his own style of leadership and his own ideas and methods.”
Gerrard, meanwhile also chimed in last night, and said there wasn’t a better player to assume the captain duties after his departure. He said, “Jordan’s been loyal to the club by signing a new deal and I wish him well. “Raheem (Sterling) and Jordan are at different ends of the scale. Jordan’s so professional, he’s a winner, a great lad. I don’t think there’s a more fitting player to take that armband off me. I see a lot of my game in Jordan’s game and what I like about him is he’s very humble.”