Champions League winner Jordan Henderson has been offered the freedom of the city of Sunderland but has asked for the honour to be delayed until closer to his retirement.

The 29-year-old was born and bred in Sunderland and as such his achievement in winning the Champions League earlier this month has been celebrated by his home town.

After defeating Tottenham 2-0 in Madrid to secure the Red's fifth European Cup, Sunderland council chiefs proposed Henderson be given the honorary freedom of the city. 

The Englishman began his playing career for Sunderland at the early age of eight where he was part of the youth setup for ten years before signing his first professional contract in 2008.

He made 71 first team appearances for The Black Cats during his three-year tenure in the first team before joining Liverpool in 2011.

Councilor Michael Mordey said: "We are very pleased to say that Jordan has said he would be proud to accept the freedom of his home city at some point in the future."

"Jordan obviously has hit immediate sights firmly set on what he wants to achieve on the football pitch.

"It may well be that honouring as one of the city's greats is something that is likely to happen in years to come rather than in the next couple of season.

"In the meantime, however, we are delighted to announce that Jordan has agreed to become an ambassador for the City of Sunderland, a role for which he is supremely qualified."

Born and raised in the city, Henderson has strong ties to the city of Sunderland where he was educated at the city's Farringdon Community Academy where he still regularly returns to meet pupils and make presentations.