Jordan Henderson named Liverpool captain

Jordan Henderson has been confirmed as Liverpool’s new club captain.

Henderson had been tipped to succeed Steven Gerrard after skippering the side in his absence for large parts of last season and his appointment comes just before the club depart for their pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia.

“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,” Henderson told the club’s official website.

“When Steven 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 joined Liverpool from Sunderland in June 2011 and has established himself as a vital member of Brendan Rodgers’ squad.

He was appointed vice-captain in September 2014 and Rodgers believes he is the right person to succeed Gerrard as captain.

“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,” Rodgers said.

“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.”

Henderson added: “I’ve learnt a lot off Stevie and how he conducted himself as the captain of this club both on and off the field. 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.”

Credit: Setanta Sport