| Full name | Jordan Brian Henderson |
|---|
| Date of birth | 17 June 1990 (1990-06-17) (age 21) |
| Place of birth | Sunderland, England |
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Playing position | Midfielder |
Jordan Brian Henderson (born 17 June 1990) is an
English footballer who currently plays as a
midfielder for
Premier League club
Liverpool and the
England national team. He had a loan spell at
Coventry City in 2009. He earned his first international cap for England, having previously played for the
under-19,
under-20 and
under-21 teams. Henderson was schooled at
Farringdon Community Sports College before joining Sunderland as a youngster.
Henderson played his first league game for Sunderland as a half-time substitute on 1 November 2008, in a 5–0 away defeat to
Chelsea.
He then made his first Sunderland start and home début against
Blackburn Rovers in the
League Cup
Club career
Coventry City (loan)
In January 2009, Henderson joined
Championship club
Coventry City on a month-long loan deal.
[4] He made his Coventry debut in a 2–1 defeat to
Derby County.
[5] On 23 February 2009, it was announced that Henderson's loan to Coventry would be extended until the end of the season.
[6]
"I'm extending my contract here until the end of the season so hopefully we can get that sorted soon," Henderson told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. "I'm over the moon playing first-team football for Coventry City who are flying at the minute" he added. Henderson scored the first senior goal of his career on 29 February 2009, against
Norwich City.
[7]
While on loan at Coventry, Henderson fractured the
fifth metatarsal bone in his foot and returned to Sunderland on 8 April 2009.
[8]
Return to Sunderland
2009–10
In the 2009–10 season, Henderson broke into the Sunderland first team and made several Premier League appearances. He scored his first senior goal for the club against
Birmingham City in the Carling Cup third round.
He then went on to score his first Premier League goal against
Manchester City on 19 December 2009.
Henderson spent the majority of the season on the right side of midfield but played centrally in the absence of
Lee Cattermole; his versatility and consistency earning him a new five year contract on 23 April 2010, keeping him with the club till 2015.
He also went on to win the Young Player of the Year award for the 2009–10 season.
Henderson's first full season with Sunderland was a major success. He won one personal accolade, scored two goals in all competitions and managed six assists.
2010–11
Henderson made a solid start in pre-season, scoring two goals, both away from home against
Leicester City and
Hoffenheim respectively. Days later, on 13 August his squad number was changed from 16 to 10. Henderson's early season form caught the eye of many observers, most notably
Fabio Capello who made Henderson a part of his senior squad to face
France on 17 November 2010.
Henderson helped Sunderland to an unbeaten run of games against big clubs such as
Manchester City,
Manchester United and Chelsea all of whom have since reportedly registered an interest in the player.
Henderson went on to score his first goal of the season in the 1–0 win over
West Ham United.
On 13 January 2011, Henderson was listed on the official FIFA website as one of thirteen young players to watch in 2011, he ranked alongside
Atletico Madrid's
David De Gea and
Anderlecht's
Romelu Lukaku.
[16] FIFA also added Henderson is "Composed, athletic and powerful". Henderson has also been hailed as “the best young British footballer there is” by his Sunderland manager,
Steve Bruce.
Henderson scored twice against
Wigan Athletic on 23 April 2011, as Sunderland ended a run of 8 games without a win.
Henderson was again named Sunderland's Young Player of the Year for the second season running.
Liverpool
On 8 June 2011, Sunderland
and Liverpool
confirmed they had agreed an undisclosed fee (thought to be around £16 million)
for Henderson, who would travel to Liverpool's training facility
Melwood to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms regarding a move to Liverpool. Sunderland's chairman
Niall Quinn commented on the deal, stating on the official Sunderland website that "Jordan is a credit to himself, his family and Sunderland's Academy and everyone here wishes him the very best for the future".
Later that day, Liverpool released video footage of Henderson in club gear at Melwood.
He completed the move a day later on 9 June 2011, signing "a long-term deal" with the club.
International career
Henderson has so far represented England nine times at three different levels. He made his debut for the under-19's in 2009 against Czech Republic before breaking into
Stuart Pearce's under-21 squad. He then scored his first goal in an England shirt in the European Championship play-offs against Romania, hitting a volley from outside the box to get the first goal in the game.
[26]
On 11 November 2010, Henderson was omitted from England's U21 squad for their friendly with
Germany,
[ instead receiving his first call up to the senior England squad on 17 November 2010, for their friendly against
France. He made the starting line up, starting in midfield alongside
Steven Gerrard.
[28]
Henderson was selected in the England U21 squad for the
2011 European Championships, despite having played 40 games already that season. However England Under 21's were knocked out in the group stage.
[29]
Honours
- Sunderland
