Liverpool FC Forum

[Reg]

Henchoz hangs up his boots

Former Liverpool and Blackburn defender Stephane Henchoz has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect.

The 34-year-old has been without a club since his contract with Premier League side Blackburn expired in June. He told Swiss television channel TSR he now intends to study for his coaching badge.

Henchoz, who began his career in 1992 with Neuchatel Xamax, represented Switzerland on 72 occasions and enjoyed a successful period with Liverpool, whom he joined from Blackburn in 1999.

He won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup in 2001, going on to make 205 appearances for the Reds.

Spells with Celtic and Wigan followed before a return to Blackburn, his final club as a professional footballer.
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Was inconsistant at the beginning of his Liveerpool career but matured well into a reliable keystone. Wish the lad well.

[Toffeehater]

One of the all time great defenders , like markus babbel .All the best henchoz

[GYBS]

Did well while at the club - some great saves in the Worthy Cup and FA Cup finals

[Ace Ventura]

Very good defender Henchoz was and a key member of the treble winning team.

He always looked fooked during the game  out of breath i mean. And with his big red cheeks looked like he'd been tango'd as well 

[metalhead]

best of luck henchoz on your coaching badge.

was great with hyppia!

[RUSHIE#9]

Top quality goalkeeper defender and along with Hyypia probably the best defensive partnership we'd had since the 80's (not much competition I admit :P ).

He really did have a big hand in helping us win the treble in 2001 and will always be rememebered in Anfield folklore for personally pissing Warnock off for "spitting" at him from about 50 yards!!!

[Emerald Red]

It's a shame players like Hencoz will never truly be remembered as all time greats in the same breath as the Hanson's or Lawrenson's simply because he never really won anything truly prestigious with us, and I'm talking about the two big ones, the league title and Big Ears. Still, he was one of our best ever defenders without a doubt, and alongside  Hyypia, has there been a better partnering other than the two I've mentioned?

[112-1077774096]

Top quality goalkeeper defender and along with Hyypia probably the best defensive partnership we'd had since the 80's (not much competition I admit :P ).

He really did have a big hand in helping us win the treble in 2001 and will always be rememebered in Anfield folklore for personally pissing Warnock off for "spitting" at him from about 50 yards!!!

i was just coming in here to sy he was the best keeper we ever had

[HacksawJimDuggin]

What a servant to the club. Fantastic partnership with Sami.

[Jimmy the Weasel]

I always preferred Henchoz to Sami in their day - Hyypia was the elegant, measured, classy one.

Henchoz just defended like a true old-fashioned centre-half - throwing himself into tackles, getting anything he could in the way of the ball, whether it was his foot or his face (or his hand!).

Good luck Stephane!

[crazyhorse]

He seems a bit young to retire, but good luck to him.

[maypaxvobiscum]

he was a great defender honestly. he also has a page on Bebo.   Stephane Henchoz Fan Site

probably the best defensive trio ive ever seen in our modern day history

[roberto green]

Henchoz had a HAND in alot of our important victories.

All the best to him as Scott Carsons new goalkeeping coach...

Sorry it's getting sad now.

[JC_81]

Very good player Henchoz.  Didn't think he'd be a great buy at the time, looked decent at Blackburn but nothing special.

That back line we had of Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher and Hamann sitting in front was top class during our treble season.  IMO that team would have been close to winning the title... if it had good wingers - sound familiar?

That defence, with Gerrard and McAllister and with Redknapp (when fit) and Murphy all capable centre mids, along with Fowler/Owen and a Heskey with a bit of confidence was a good side.  Unfortunately the likes of Ziege, Smicer, Murphy, Barmby etc never made the wide positions their own.

I'd go as far as to say that maybe one top class winger (perhaps Duff at the time) and a reliable goalkeeper and we would have taken the title around about that time.

[Fowler_E7]

Very good player Henchoz.  Didn't think he'd be a great buy at the time, looked decent at Blackburn but nothing special.

That back line we had of Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher and Hamann sitting in front was top class during our treble season.  IMO that team would have been close to winning the title... if it had good wingers - sound familiar?

That defence, with Gerrard and McAllister and with Redknapp (when fit) and Murphy all capable centre mids, along with Fowler/Owen and a Heskey with a bit of confidence was a good side.  Unfortunately the likes of Ziege, Smicer, Murphy, Barmby etc never made the wide positions their own.

I'd go as far as to say that maybe one top class winger (perhaps Duff at the time) and a reliable goalkeeper and we would have taken the title around about that time.

that team was close to being something special, the back 4 certainly pisses over anything we have now. Like you said, the team need some good wide players and im pretty sure they could of have gone all the way. The key season was 02/03 when Houllier spent terribly, he bought Djiuff, Cheyrou and Diao and let Anelka go, after selling Fowler which was disgraceful business.

If he had bought Anelka plus two quality wide men, (Duff is an excellent shout by the way) that team could have really kicked on.