Al Ettifaq have apologised to Liverpool fans on social media following the arrival of Jordan Henderson.
The former Reds captain ended his decade-long stay at Anfield, this summer, as departed for a fee worth £12m. He wasn’t the only surprise departure to the region from the Reds as midfield compatriot Fabinho followed soon after, following interest from reigning champions Al Ittihad.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard took charge of the Dammam side, in his first role since his dismissal as Aston Villa manager. He made Jurgen Klopp’s captain one of his first signings as Moussa Dembele and Jack Hendry penned terms in the Saudi Pro League.
Following the launch of their new kit, those behind the club’s social media issued an apology to Reds fans. On the back of their green strip is the abbreviation ‘E.F.C’ – the same as Liverpool’s rivals Everton.
In a tweet to their 19.7k followers, they said: “Sorry to all the @LFC fans for putting E.F.C on Hendo’s [Henderson] back. At least it’s not blue.
“Better get that number 10 kit before it runs out.”
Henderson has moved from his iconic number 14 at Liverpool to number 10 in the Kingdom. He will assume a similar role to the one he left at Anfield as he became Ettifaq captain.
He made his debut in a 1-0 pre-season win over Abu Dhabi side, Al Jazira, at the weekend.
“I’m not sure I have any words to sum up how I’m feeling right now – I’m in the dressing room for the last time so as you can imagine it’s very emotional,” Henderson began in a farewell post to Liverpool fans. “But, I need to somehow try and explain what these last 12 years have meant for me and my family.
“I can still remember that June night back in 2011 clearly, being dead excited but then becoming even more nervous as the move from Sunderland became a reality.
“It was hard leaving there – my hometown, my club – but when Liverpool come knocking, you don’t say no. Driving in through those old Melwood gates, meeting Damien [Comolli], spinning feeling in my stomach, a little shy meeting Sir Kenny [Dalglish], that all feels like yesterday.
“When I see that footage back I was just a kid – who would have imagined that night how the next 12 years would go?
“I can’t lie, there has been hard times. Really hard times. But, when I look back on my career with Liverpool, it will always be the good times that I remember.
“The good times – again, where do I start?” He continued. “Being made the captain of Liverpool Football Club was one of the greatest honours of my life.
“From the day the armband was passed to me I did everything I could to behave like a Liverpool captain should. But, the biggest honours at Liverpool weren’t personal ones, they were collective ones. All of us, all of you, together.
“Starting in Madrid with number six, the most perfect night. Probably my favourite night, actually. You’ve seen it I’m sure, the emotion – it was impossible not to be emotional. Then when we came home there were no words for that experience. You were everywhere – literally everywhere. On trees, windows, on roofs, on cars, up lamp posts and even on scaffolding.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving us that welcome. Not just once, but to do it again even after we lost the Champions League Final says everything about the club and its supporters. They are the best in the world – there can be no doubt, there is no doubt.
“I’m sad I won’t have the chance to play at a bigger Anfield, but I know what impact it’ll have on the opponents.
“I guess the thing I want to say most of all to you is simply thank you. Thank you for allowing me to have been part of your club. Thank you for your support through good times and bad. Thank you for all the sacrifices and commitments made, and will continue to make to follow us all over the world.
“Just know I will always be a Red until the day I die. Thank you for everything, You’ll Never Walk Alone. Jordan.”