Exclusive by Kevin Kennedy

 LIAM HENDERSON opens up on life in Italy as he makes it six years since making the move to the continent.  

After Lennon Miller’s move from Motherwell to Udinese, he now becomes the 8^th player in the last six years to move from Scotland to play in Italian football. This a career move that’s becoming more popular with young players in Scotland.

Before his move abroad Henderson took inspiration from his father.

“All the best players played in Italy and he (his father) grew up watching Italian football, so he was the one who really encouraged me to come and play”.  He added that his mother helped settle him in off the pitch, “ my mum came over for the first few weeks, so she stayed with me and helped me get organised…”  

Henderson was the first player to set off this trend a number of years ago, when he left Celtic in 2018 to make the move to Bari. Since then, he’s gone onto have a successful spell in Italy across six different clubs, captaining Empoli in that time, making him a veteran of the Italian game.  

Here are some of Liam’s highlights from his time in Italy.

With over 200 appearances in Italian football, Henderson believes there are some parallels that can be drawn between the Italian and Scottish game.

It’s often thought that rough and tumble of our domestic game is what sets us apart but that’s something the Scot doesn’t agree with. In fact, he thinks it’s quite the opposite.

Henderson continued:

“It’s actually quite similar, the culture in Scottish and Italian football is actually quite similar. You wouldn’t expect it, but it is quite physical here. A lot of running too. Here (Italy), they work quite a lot on defending, a lot on more tactical work rather than just being a bit more free.”

 “There’s a lot of double training here, like double sessions, some of the games are much hotter than you play back home.”

Lewis Ferguson, Aaron Hickey, Josh Doig and Miller, who were all involved in the latest Scotland squad, as Steve Clarke’s men took four points from six in World Cup qualifying, have all had spells in Italy. Henderson is also the first Scot to play for Sampdoria since Graeme Souness played there in the late 80’s

He elaborated:

“I hope I was one of the ones who instigated the move for the other Scottish boys to come and show that they can do well in Italy…it is different to playing football in Scotland or football in the UK and it’s amazing the fact that there’s so many more boys coming and playing football here.”

And the former Empoli captain has become a bit of a trailblazer when it comes to young players taking the leap of faith to play on the continent.

“I think that’s what makes young Scottish talents want to come and play in Italy because it’s a top five league. The countries fanatical about football and it’s a good place to come and learn the tactical side.”

He explained that the off-field lifestyle is also a big pull for the new up and coming crop of players. That coupled with the tactical element of the game is why Henderson thinks the move is so appealing.

“There are advantages more so off the pitch than on it, because the food’s amazing, the weather’s amazing, the coffee’s good. You can go to the beach a lot more here than you can back in Scotland.

And working under former Hoops ace Massimo Donati as they look to return former champions Sampdoria to the top table in Italy is a pleasure for Henderson.

 “…I did the opposite from what he (Donati) did, I came from Scotland to Italy, and he came from Italy to Scotland…I’m enjoying working under him and I hope that I can do really well for him and as a team we can do really well and get some good results for Sampdoria”

Part of Liam’s interview can be listened to here: