Jordan Henderson claims he will always treasure celebrating Liverpool’s Champions League triumph on the pitch with his dad.
Henderson wept in that cathartic moment as he embraced his dad, Brian, because of the struggles they had overcome.
Brian had beaten throat cancer, while Henderson had finally silenced the doubters by captaining Liverpool to Champions League glory in Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium.
Henderson had dreamed of lifting the European Cup since Brian had taken him to the 2003 final at Old Trafford between Juventus and AC Milan.
“Well, obviously the stand-out moment for me personally would be when I saw my dad on the side,” he said.
“We were on the pitch for quite some time and I didn’t want to come off.
For me, personally, when we were celebrating on the pitch it was nice to be able to spend that moment with my dad.
“Football means a lot to me, to my family. We’ve been through a lot not only in football terms in those finals and everything you work for, but just in life as well with what my dad went through, his life and how much it means to him.
“I know how much it means to him and he knows how much it means to me. Just everything, up until that moment, it felt as though it was meant to be somehow in the end, looking back.
"It was meant to be that way and it was a very special moment.”
Former Manchester United skipper Rio Ferdinand has been impressed by how Henderson has grown into the role of Liverpool captain after taking over the mantle from club legend Steven Gerrard.
"He's had to fill massive shoes - one of the biggest pair of shoes you'd have to fill with Steven Gerrard," said Ferdinand.
"But he's done it with aplomb. He's grown so well into that role and it fits him like a glove now, that armband. It's perfect for him."
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