JORDAN HENDERSON is back in the Premier League, playing well for Brentford and looking certain to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad at the World Cup.
But the midfielder, set to win his 86th cap against Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday, has the scars from the most difficult spell of his career — even though some of the damage was self-inflicted.
Henderson, 35, spoke at length for the first time about his struggle in dealing with life after Liverpool, where he spent 12 years.
He admitted that after leaving the club, he could not even bear to watch his old team.
Some football fans will probably be getting out the small violins for a player who accepted a £350,000-a-week offer to move to Saudi Arabia and play for Al-Ettifaq.
It was an unmitigated PR disaster. Naively, this incredibly respected player, who had previously championed LGBTQ+ rights, thought he could “help causes and communities” from within.
But realising this move was a mistake both personally and professionally, Henderson switched to Ajax before returning to the Premier League with Brentford in the summer.
Henderson was in good spirits this week as he entered a room at St George’s Park to speak to journalists.
Yet he soon switched into serious mode when asked about his 2023 departure from Liverpool, the club he led to both Champions League and Premier League glory.
He said: “It was a really tough period when I left Liverpool. I was there for a long period of time, 12 years.
“Leaving Liverpool itself was huge and really difficult. It had been my life for so long and then it had just gone like that (he clicked his fingers), so I struggled for a period after that. I had such an attachment and I dedicated a large part of my life there.
“I couldn’t watch a lot of games, I certainly couldn’t watch Liverpool. So I probably picked the right place for that as I was halfway around the world!
“It felt like a break-up. It was just difficult. And I think if you ask a lot of players when they leave a club, not just Liverpool, there is a period of time which is hard. But after time, things change.”
There is no doubt, though, that joining former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq was a terrible mistake when he should have followed other English players by going to Serie A in Italy — or just moved to Ajax, where he eventually ended up.
The switch to the Middle East affected his previously good reputation and while he left Saudi Arabia to join Ajax in January 2024, then England boss Gareth Southgate left him out of the Euros squad for Germany as his form had dipped.
Hendo said: “I don’t think Saudi was the reason why I missed the Euros. When I was in Saudi, I think I was in every camp prior to the Euros.
“In hindsight, maybe I would have made different decisions. But at the time, that is how I felt and the decision I made by going to Saudi was for many different reasons.
“I tried to do the right thing. I thought it was best to do it at the time and then best to come back to Europe and play for Ajax, which I really enjoyed.”
But what was it like having his values questioned and being criticised?
Taking a deep breath, he added: “Over the past couple of years, I have had some tough moments but when you come out the other side, you look back, you think you learn a lot about yourself and it makes you stronger.
“Of course, I am not perfect and I have made mistakes in the past, throughout my career. But all I have ever tried to do is the right thing and help as many people around me as I can and try to use the negative stuff to be a better player and help my team wherever I have been.
“I think in football, you always have to prove a point and when you think you don’t, there’s a problem.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always had to prove something so it’s no different. I’ve just tried to come and do my best for the team and try to play as best I can and try to enjoy it as well.
“Playing week to week helps with that. But, overall, I’ve really enjoyed the start and enjoyed being back in the Premier League — and it’s given me another energy boost to want to keep playing in the best league in the world.”
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