Captain of Liverpool FC, Premier League Winners, FIFA Club World Cup winners and Champions League winners, Jordan Henderson is a player who has scaled football’s pinnacles. Vice-captain of England who he helped reach the 2018 World Cup semi-final, Hendo is a colossus for club and country. Possessing an astute understanding of the game, he is the ultimate team player.

In a sport increasingly overtaken by 30 second clips on You Tube and celebrity culture, Henderson is the sort of player who makes any team better but one who until now rarely gets the credit he deserves. If I had to name someone I regard as the ultimate professional, then Jordan would come right at the top of the list. He is selfless, he puts himself at the back of the queue because he looks after everyone else first. He puts Jordan Henderson last is the verdict of Steven Gerrard, the legend he succeeded as skipper at Anfield but a man whose achievements for both the Reds and the Three Lions Hendo now surpasses.

Liverpool won the Premier League for the first time in 30 years this season and Jordan will be presented with the Premier League trophy after the last match of the season against Chelsea on July 18. He is also now favourite to lift the LFC and PFA Player of the Year Awards.

Author Rob Mason is perfectly qualified to write this affectionate tribute to Jordan as he has followed his career from his early days at Sunderland (where Rob worked as the communications manager) through the years at Liverpool where the club has finally won its 19th league championship with Jordan as their hugely popular captain.

Little Book of Sunderland