“It felt like a break-up” – Jordan Henderson opens up on difficult & emotional Liverpool exit | OneFootball

Former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has opened up about the toll of his Anfield exit, revealing that it felt like a break-up and left him unable to watch the Reds play.

The former Liverpool captain is now 35 and plying his trade at Brentford.

However, he spent 12 memorable years on Merseyside, winning the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and the Club World Cup.

Henderson made 492 appearances for the Reds, scoring 33 goals and providing 58 assists.

His ability to control proceedings and lead the charge in the engine room earned him a legacy as one of Jurgen Klopp’s most trusted lieutenants during the club’s recent success.

Henderson’s move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in 2023 came as a shock to supporters and teammates.

However, after just six months, he cut short his stint in Saudi Arabia to join Ajax, before returning to England earlier this year with Brentford.

Reflecting on his Liverpool departure, Henderson revealed just how difficult it was to adjust to life away from Anfield, where he played his best football.

“It was a really tough period when I left Liverpool,” he told reporters (via The Mirror). “I’d been there 12 years. It was my life. Leaving was huge and really difficult.

“For a while, I couldn’t even watch Liverpool games. It just felt too painful.”

He continued, “It felt like a break-up, honestly. When you’ve been somewhere for so long, dedicated so much of your life, it’s hard to let go. I struggled for a period after that.”

Now settled at Brentford and back in the England squad, Henderson appears to have rediscovered his rhythm.

Still, the deep bond he shared with Liverpool Football Club clearly runs through him.

“It was the hardest moment of my career,” he said. “Liverpool will always be part of me.”