Mountain in defence

Arsenal's Giovanni van Bronckhorst (L) vies for the ball with Stephane Henchoz of Liverpool during a premier league match at Highbury Stadium in north London, 29 December 2002. Match ended in a 1-1 draw. AFP PHOTO/Odd ANDERSEN - - ONLINE INTERNET USE SUBJECT TO FAPL LICENSE - -

Just as the "liver bird" watches over Liverpool from its perch on the roof of a port-side building in the historic Merseyside town, Stephane Henchoz keeps a vigilant eye on the defence of the equally celebrated local football team.

Since 1999, Henchoz has proudly sported the red jersey of Liverpool emblazoned with the club badge featuring the great Cormorant like bird, which is also the City symbol.

Alongside Finland's Sami Hyypia, the pair make up one of the Premiership's meanest defences.

He came through the youth team at FC Bulle before joining Swiss big guns Neuchatel Xamax at 18. Within months the national coach Englishman Roy Hodgson was impressed enough to give him his international debut back in January 1993. Now heading to Euro 2004, Henchoz has eleven years international experience under his belt.

He was selected for the Swiss squad for the 1994 World Cup in the USA, but his tender years saw him watch the tournament form the substitutes bench.

He then spent two seasons in Germany on the outer fringes of Hamburg's squad between 1995 and 1997.

During that period he also started all Switzerland's matches at Euro 96, where narrow defeats to Holland and Scotland and a draw with England saw them eliminated at the first round stage.

He was soon back in England for the start of the 1997-98 season with a move to Blackburn Rovers, then managed by his old mentor Hodgson.

Five star year

Blackburn Rovers' Swiss defender Stephane Henchoz (L) keeps Liverpool's Michael Owen at arms length during their English Premiership match at Anfield 29 November.

In his second season at Blackburn he was voted their player of the year, a year though that saw the Rovers relegated from the top flight. Several European clubs came knocking at his door but he chose Blackburn's regional neighbours Liverpool.

Liverpool's Swiss player Stephan Henchoz holds aloft the FA Cup trophy after his team beat Arsenal in the final at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff 12 May 2001. Liverpool won the game 2-1 after Michael Owen scored two late goals to seal the victory.

His aerial play is efficient, his man marking superb and his distribution marked by fine technical ability. Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier must also be delighted by the consistency of his performances.

Houllier's task of lifting the once mighty Liverpool back to the top looked to be on track in 2001, a year his side won no less than five trophies. Chief amongst these was the Uefa Cup and the English FA Cup. They also added the English League Cup, the Charity Shield and beat Bayern Munich in the final of the European Supercup.

Whilst he was injured in the 2002-03 season Liverpool's defence became suddenly vulnerable, but he was back in the side for another League Cup win over eternal rivals Manchester United that year.