---
title: "OTD: Former Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz was born"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/otd-former-liverpool-defender-stephane-henchoz-was-born/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-09-07T12:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-09-07T12:00:00Z"
---

# OTD: Former Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz was born

On this day (September 7), former [Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/09/07/virals-liverpool-have-karim-adeyemi-on-their-radar/) defender [Stephane Henchoz](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2018/09/05/ex-red-stephane-henchoz-hits-out-at-arsenals-granit-xhaka/) was born in Billens, Switzerland.

Now 47, the centre-back became in Red in June 1999 following a £3.5million move from Blackburn Rovers ([The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/jun/03/newsstory.sport1)).

Then manager Gerard Houllier took advantage of a relegation release clause in the Swiss ace’s contract in order to prize [92 Rovers appearance](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/stephane-henchoz/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3210/verein/164) ace out of Ewood Park.

Henchoz joined fellow centre-half and another summer arrival Sami Hyypia at Anfield and quickly became one of the most [revered partnerships](https://www.planetfootball.com/nostalgia/a-tribute-to-liverpool-hero-sami-hyypia-from-unknown-to-unbeatable/) in the country.

> Twitter: Happy Birthday Stéphane Henchoz ![🎂](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/svg/1f382.svg)
>
> He was signed by Liverpool in 1999 for £3.5m. That same summer Sami Hyypia moved… https://t.co/sxX6S2OIUI (@FootballRemind)

Capped on a remarkable [72 occasions](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/stephane-henchoz/nationalmannschaft/spieler/3210/verein_id/3384) by Switzerland, Henchoz amassed [501 club appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/stephane-henchoz/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/3210) throughout a distinguished career.

During a six-year spell on Merseyside, the defender made [205 outings](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/stephane-henchoz/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3210/verein/31) for the Reds, [winning](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/stephane-henchoz/erfolge/spieler/3210) the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and League Cup on two occasions.

Henchoz spent spells with Celtic and Wigan before [retiring](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/stephane-henchoz/transfers/spieler/3210) following a second stint at Blackburn Rovers.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Often a forgotten figure from what was a [special era](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/history/honours) in the history of Liverpool Football Club, Henchoz was a superb servant to the Reds.

Perhaps somewhat in the [shadow of the towering Fin](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/features/359335-from-cardiff-to-istanbul-kop-10-sami-hyypia-moments) next to him, the energetic Swiss ace was an underrated performer in Houllier’s side.

Happy Birthday.