Jurgen Klopp has come to the defense of Jordan Henderson, Liverpool’s former midfielder, who recently concluded his controversial tenure in Saudi Arabia by making a surprising move to Ajax. Henderson left Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq just six months after leaving Liverpool.
The midfielder’s decision to join a club in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal stirred criticism in the UK, given Henderson’s previous high-profile support for LGBTQ+ rights. Responding to renewed criticism following Henderson’s move to Ajax, Klopp expressed a strong stance against judging personal choices.
“People are really critical of Hendo about the move, first there and now coming back. I don’t know how we dare, always judging these kinds of things. We have one life and we have to make decisions,” Klopp told reporters on Friday.
Klopp acknowledged that Henderson’s time in Saudi Arabia was an “interesting experience” and highlighted that the majority of football-related aspects were “absolutely fine” during his stay. Henderson, who captained Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2019 and secured the club’s first Premier League title in 30 years the following season, has faced scrutiny for his move.
Despite Ajax’s current struggles in the Dutch league, Klopp believes the switch to Amsterdam will be beneficial for Henderson after a challenging period.
“There are many things to develop in the future but (he was) never really critical or saying: ‘It’s not possible that that’s not there’, but then he thought it is better for him and the family to come back to Europe, and now he is at Ajax Amsterdam, a sensational club in a difficult moment,” Klopp explained.
Expressing his happiness for Henderson, Klopp stressed the importance of the player’s contentment, adding, “He is going to Holland where he can enjoy his football definitely again. The family will feel wonderful because the city is absolutely outstanding.”
While Klopp plans to discuss Henderson’s move with him in the coming days, he acknowledged that the player has other pressing matters to attend to.
The Liverpool boss emphasized that personal well-being, happiness, and family considerations play a crucial role in such decisions.
