Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has opened up on how watching the 2003 UEFA Champions League final in person made him determined to play on such an occasion himself one day.

The midfielder has gone on to play in three such finals throughout an impressive career at Anfield, lifting the famous trophy in 2019.

Speaking on the latest episode of the James Richardson’s Kings of Europe podcast, Henderson revealed that he attended the 2003 final in which Milan beat Juventus on penalties and this helped drive his ambition to compete at the highest level.

„That was a long time ago! It was at Old Trafford, Juventus vs Milan. That was a special night, I was probably around 13, going to a Champions League final was an amazing occasion and it was for a 13-year-old who loved football to do,“ Henderson said.

„I think I was in awe of the whole atmosphere, the whole experience really. You had these world class players playing in front of you, but the whole thing around the Champions League final – before the game, watching the warm-up, coming out to the music and everything – I can remember saying to my dad I wanted to play in a Champions League final one day. He sort of looked at it and laughed a little bit, I’m not sure whether he believed us or whether he just thought ‚yeah, every could would want to do that‘.

„But I was just amazed by the whole experience so it was a goal for me to try and play in one one day.“

Liverpool won their sixth European Cup in 2019 with a 2-0 victory against Tottenham, though had fallen short in the previous year’s final having been beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid.

Manager Jurgen Klopp had lost two Champions League finals heading into 2019’s showdown with Spurs, and Henderson discussed how the German ensured the dressing room was better prepared that year.

„You lose and he’s really good at handling situations and perspective, putting a bigger perspective on things, and it’s the other way when you win as well, it’s a lot easier I suppose. He is really good around those situations and handles them really well,“ Henderson said of Klopp.

„The lads knew what we needed to do, we knew what the task was ahead and we’d worked so hard to be able to get there that I think we all knew how important it was.

„I just knew that we were all ready. I could see in everyone that this is what we were ready for and I couldn’t wait to play the final.“

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Listen to the Jordan Henderson interview in full in the latest episode of ‘James Richardson’s Kings of Europe’ – the latest podcast from BT Sport Pods out today across major podcast platforms.

Every Monday, journalist James Richardson interviews a Champions League winner from the past 30 years, providing unique insights into some of the biggest moments in European football history: btsport.com/pods