Jordan Henderson: Why Thomas Tuchel picked ex-Liverpool captain in first England squad despite no call-up in a year

19 March 2025, 09:45 | Updated: 20 March 2025, 06:37

Jordan Henderson's selection has become the major talking point of Thomas Tuchel's England squad, with a feeling of looking back rather than forward from the new Three Lions boss.

Henderson has been out of the spotlight domestically and internationally since he was last picked for England in March 2024, shortly after the end of his controversial move to Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq, which broke down only six months after joining from Liverpool.

The booing which greeted his substitution during his final round of appearances during the November internationals in 2023, amid rising criticism for moving to the Middle East after previously being seen as an ambassador for the LGBTQ+ community, appeared to point towards an unsavoury end to an England career which had taken Henderson to 81 caps and six international tournaments.

That looked even more likely after he failed to make a single England appearance in 2024, and did not appear in any of Gareth Southgate or Lee Carsley's squads after the March internationals last year.

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So why has Tuchel, a man with little time to build a squad capable of winning next summer's World Cup - when his contract as head coach expires - decided to put his faith in the 34-year-old now?

"I was not surprised [he was called up]," Ajax boss Francesco Farioli told Sky Sports following his selection. "He's a player who can bring many things.

"The age, the passport, these are just factors because with his mentality and his professionalism, it's not something which is declining.

"Now England is rebuilding and building a new story, I think they definitely need these kinds of players and especially human beings."

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