It has so far been a mixed season for those who left Liverpool at the end of the last campaign.
Naby Keita, for example, has had a terrible time of it since joining Werder Bremen. On the other hand, the likes of James Milner are still going strong and doing fairly well at Brighton.
One of those who certainly fell into the Keita camp was Jordan Henderson. Having surprisingly left Liverpool for Saudi Arabia in June, Henderson quickly realised that he’d made a terrible decision. With January bringing a potential reprieve, the 33-year-old looked for a way out.
In the end, he found that with a move to the Netherlands and Ajax. It was an attractive option for Henderson as he joined the four-time European champions. So far, things have been going well. After making his debut and praising the atmosphere on Saturday, The Times report that Henderson’s arrival has gripped Amsterdam with excitement.
One of those The Times asked to comment on the current euphoria surrounding Ajax was journalist Willem Vissers. His words paint the picture of a club who simply can’t quite believe what’s happening.
“It’s not normal for Ajax,” he says. “[Luis] Suarez, Ronaldo [Nazrio], Romario — they were all young and quite unknown when they came to Holland. A top player coming from England to Holland is exciting. A player who was Liverpool captain a couple of years ago is spectacular.”
Ajax delighted with Henderson
From the outside looking in, this all seems a little bit over the top from Ajax. Dutch football may no longer be the wealthiest or most prominent in Europe, but the league has certainly played host to some wonderful footballers.
Vissers points out three of those, three who – let’s be honest – Henderson has no business being mentioned alongside.
Despite the slightly murky way he left Liverpool, we’re fans of Jordan generally. In terms of his playing ability, he’s often done down. You only have to listen to those who have played with him to understand how important he is to whoever he’s playing for.
But Suarez? Ronaldo? Romario? These are legends of the sport. Players who achieved quite amazing things in the game.
Of course, it is worth pointing out that all three South Americans joined the Eredivisie when they weren’t yet superstars.
Before Suarez made his name at Ajax he had already been at Groningen for a year, joining straight from Uruguayan giants Nacional in 2006. Just 19 at the time, he was an unknown quantity.
Ronaldo was even younger, but even at 17, ‘O Fenomeno’ already had a big reputation having plundered plenty of goals for Cruzeiro. Romario meanwhile was more established at 22, but his move to PSV was his first experience in Europe.
Obviously, being at the opposite end of his career, Henderson is very different. However, this is not a player in his prime. Ask any Liverpool fan and they’ll tell you that his peak is at least two years gone.
Still, it’s nice to hear that Henderson is back in a place where he’ll feel the love of the club. It’s a great institution, and Hendo is well used to those.
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