Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson on fatherhood, fitness and getting kids outdoors

Football became Jordan Henderson’s life when he joined Sunderland AFC at just eight years old, and it has been ever since. His parents committed to keeping him in the game – no matter what else was going on – and he is reaping those rewards now.

“I’ve always been close to my dad, even though my parents split up when I was six. It was a tough time,” the 31-year-old Liverpool captain reflects. “But I suppose football brought me closer to my dad, because the time I got to spend with him was when he was taking us to train and taking us to football.”

Henderson now has three kids with his wife Rebecca Burnett – daughters Elexa (born in 2014) and Alba (2015), and son Myles (2020) – and, aged just two, his youngest has already shown an interest in the beautiful game.

“He’s kicking the ball around, he will run and kick the ball at the goal,” says Henderson. “It’s so nice to spend time with the kids and play football with them in the garden.”

Elexa is getting more and more into the game, too – even collecting Match Attax football cards. “My girl has started playing now and enjoys it. I am going to try and get out and watch the Women’s Euros over this summer, because she is asking questions and getting involved in it now.”

Henderson knows how big an impact sport can have in early life, which is why he’s supporting the McDonald’s Fun Football programme – aiming to get kids into football by providing over 10 million hours of coaching in parks and playgrounds across the UK over the next four years.

After the disruption of the pandemic, Henderson suggests it is vital to “get kids back playing football together, socialising and enjoying playing football with different people”.

He continues: “It’s probably the biggest sport in the