Henderson Named New Liverpool Captain
Jordan Henderson has been named as the new captain of Liverpool Football Club. He takes the armband full time from Steven Gerrard after being vice captain last season. He told LFC's website:
"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."
Henderson arrived at Anfield in June 2011 and has clocked up 186 appearances in establishing himself as an important figure in Brendan Rodgers' squad.
The manager explained: "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.
"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."
Such faith demonstrated in Henderson by Rodgers over the last three years is something the midfielder is eager to repay.
He said: "I've always said the manager has been brilliant for me. He's improved me consistently in every aspect of football, including off the pitch, and still is - I'm still learning from him.
"I'm very grateful for what he's done for me and the faith he's shown in me, and I'll try to repay him as best I can by doing my best for the team - I'll always put them first."
Henderson continued:
"I've learnt a lot off Stevie and how he conducted himself as the captain of this club both on and off the field," said Henderson. "You'll always learn from top players - and Steven was exactly that.
"I'll use what I learnt from him to help me, but I also have to do things in the way I think is right.
"I'll carry on from what I was doing last season and I'll also try to take on more responsibility for the team and my teammates. We all have the same goal - and that's to bring success to this club and our incredible supporters."