Wataru Endo names former Liverpool and West Ham player as his footballing hero

Liverpool have often had difficulty finding the right player to anchor their midfield.

Having seen Man City’s Rodri collect the Ballon d’Or last month, the holding midfield position has arguably never been more important in football.

Some will have forgotten, perhaps, but over the course of a difficult first season for Rodri at City, Liverpool actually had the better option of the two teams, with Fabinho in his pomp.

But once the Brazilian’s legs went, they went quickly. And although Wataru Endo has come in and done a fine job since arriving in 2023, the Japan captain is not on the same level as prime Fabinho.

Prior to both of these players moving to Anfield, the Reds had had to wait almost a decade to fill that pesky holding midfield slot.

Until Fabinho joined, various coaches had been searching for the right replacement for Javier Mascherano. The Argentine was not a glamorous operator in ‘the best midfield in the world,’ but it’s nice to hear that he picked up a big fan all the way in Japan.

Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Wataru Endo reveals Javier Mascherano admiration

With two midfielders now tasked with sitting a little deeper under Arne Slot, the role of the holding player has changed a little at Liverpool this season.

As a result, Endo has been shunted to the side lines. Slot is not necessarily looking for a ‘destroyer’ type to patrol the middle of the park.

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There are still games where Endo can be incredibly useful to the Liverpool head coach, though. His style of biting into tackles and taking no prisoners is reminiscent of Mascherano.

And so, when asked by the Premier League on YouTube to name his idol growing up, it was not too much of a surprise to hear Liverpool’s No.3 hail the man who arrived from West Ham in 2007.

READ MORE: Wataru Endo makes claim about Arne Slot after barely playing this season

“Mascherano,” answered Endo. “He played as a six also and he played as a defender.

“He’s not tall but he can play both as a midfielder and a centre-back. I was a defender when I was a boy and I was not a tall centre-back, so I watched his game a lot.

“For me it’s like a dream come true,” added the 31-year-old when asked about the reality of following Mascherano to Liverpool. “I watched Premier League games a lot when I was a boy and I always dreamed that I want to be a Premier League player. I couldn’t even imagine that.”

January interest set to arrive in Wataru Endo

Ultimately, Mascherano’s stay at Liverpool was a little too short. With the Reds dropping off horribly across 2010, El Jefe pushed for a move to Barcelona, and got it.

In Catalonia he cemented his legacy as a regular starter in one of the best teams club football has ever seen.

Appearances Goals 2006/07 11 – 2007/08 41 1 2008/09 38 1 2009/10 48 1 2009/10 1 – Javier Mascherano at Liverpool

For Endo, his journey has been very different. Already 30 when joining Liverpool, Anfield will be one of the later stops during a steady career.

Having been reduced to a bit part player by Slot, there have been rumblings that Endo could leave Liverpool in the near future. And speaking exclusively to Rousing The Kop, journalist Graeme Bailey says a January exit could be on the cards for the former Stuttgart man.

“He’s not part of the long-term plans, we know that,” says Bailey. “I’m told there’s interest from Germany for him to go back. I was surprised he stayed after the summer to be honest, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he goes in January.”

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