Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has paid an emotional tribute to Jordan Henderson with the midfielder’s move to Al-Ettifaq being confirmed on Thursday. It was first reported earlier this summer that Henderson had his head turned by a life-changing offer from Saudi Arabia.
An agreement has finally been reached between Liverpool and Al-Ettifaq with Henderson bidding farewell this week to the club he’s been at since 2011. It marks the end of an era for the Liverpool captain who led them to European glory in 2019 before ending the club’s long wait for a Premier League title a year later.
He’s lifted more trophies than any other captain in Liverpool’s illustrious history and will go down as one of the club’s most iconic players. It’s the end of an era for Klopp as well, who bids farewell to the only captain he’s known at Liverpool.
And the German head coach admits it’s a “strange” feeling waving goodbye to the 33-year-old.
“Monday when we arrived back in Liverpool, Hendo was waiting for us to say goodbye properly to the team and to the coaching staff as well, so that was a really nice gesture – a really nice thing to do,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website. “I know it was a really, really tough decision for Hendo and I was around or with him all the way.
“It’s sad, absolutely strange, because he is the only captain I had here at Liverpool, but I think it is exciting for him as well. We will miss him, without a shadow of a doubt, that’s clear – as a man and as a player. But, as I said, that’s football.”
Klopp is hopeful that Liverpool’s next captain can help lead them as well as Henderson did throughout his time at Anfield. But the German also wants to see Henderson shown more appreciation for his achievements on Merseyside.
“I think he didn’t get the proper appreciation or respect he would have deserved over the years – from some for sure, but not from all,” Klopp added. “Now he leaves, I would say, not on the highest high because obviously last season was not fantastic, but [he is] leaving on a high and I think that’s good.
“In the future when people are looking back then they will realise Jordan Henderson was the skipper of [our] most successful squad until then – I hope we can create another one – and the skipper of the first Premier League title winners and all these kind of things. That’s a special career. He should be and will be in the future proud of it.”
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