Jordan Henderson reaches Euro 2024 after eight-hour van journey to cheer England teammates from stands
Jordan Henderson wasn't part of England's squad, but the fan in him saw him drive to Berlin to take his seat for the Euro 2024 final.
The midfielder made the eight-hour trip to Berlin by hiring a van and driving to Germany, which ended in heartache for the Three Lions as Spain ran out 2-1 wihners.
Henderson, who currently plays for Ajax, couldn't make flights to the final work so took the bold step of hiring transportation and driving from Amsterdam to Berlin with his young children.
Having arrived, he was in attendance at the Olympiastadion for the showpiece clash with Spain.
But England's 58-year wait for a major trophy goes on with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring a late winner after Cole Palmer had cancelled out Nico Williams' strike early in the first half.
Henderson has been a crucial part of England's plans in recent years and was named vice-captain for the Euros in 2021 and the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
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However, he was a notable absentee for England's Euro 2024 squad after a season that saw him spend the first half of the campaign in Saudi Arabia with Al Ettifaq.
While he then made the switch to Dutch side Ajax in January, but according to Gareth Southgate, wasn't able to get himself fit for the competition.
Southgate explained: "He is a fantastic professional and it was a difficult call to make.
"He'll be a miss. He's an exceptional individual and a fantastic human being. The determining factor is the injury he picked up in the last camp.
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“He missed five weeks and he just hasn't been able to get to the intensity [we need] in the games since then."
Unfortunately Henderson's trip didn't end how he would have liked after seeing a distraught England lose 2-1 to Spain in Berlin.
There's no doubt that the Liverpool legend's presence could have been a reassuring presence for Gareth Southgate's squad, but it's hard to know if it would have made the difference.
What also remains to be seen is whether Southgate has managed his final match as England boss.
Speaking to German newspaper Bild about his England future ahead of the tournament, Southgate said: “If we don’t win, I probably won’t be here any more.
"So maybe it is the last chance. I think around half the national coaches leave after a tournament — that’s the nature of international football."
And after the game, he was non-committal, suggesting it could be over. "I don’t think now is a good time to make a decision like that," he said after the loss. "I need to talk to the right people. It’s not for now."
With a number of potential candidates already lined up, it's yet to be seen if Henderson will be challenging to win his spot back under Southgate or a new figure in the England dugout.