Jordan Henderson #14

Profile

A vocal leader, fresh from a convincing comeback season in English football with Brentford. Was heavily criticised in 2023 after leaving Liverpool for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq, given his previous support for LGBTQ+ rights, and was booed by fans during an England game soon after. He ended his Saudi contract after 24 weeks and moved to Ajax, but was left out of the Euro 2024 squad. When England made the final, he called a van-hire company and made the seven-hour journey to Berlin with his family to watch, surprising England fans at service stations along the way. “When we needed the toilet or something, or popping in the garages, it was quite funny to see some of the fans,” he says. “Actually, it was quite nice to be with them. But obviously I would have rather been with the team.” He earned an international recall last March. Was awarded an MBE in 2021 for helping drive the #PlayersTogether NHS fundraising campaign during the Covid pandemic.

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