So here's to you, Jordan Henderson...
On the day he completed a transfer to Liverpool, back in June 2011, Jordan Henderson told his new club's supporters that they would see him 'giving everything I've got in every game I play'. It's a promise the midfielder has very much kept.
Across the 180 appearances that the No.14 has made for the Reds since arriving as a prodigious and sought-after young talent from Sunderland, that in-built work ethic and unquenchable thirst for improvement has been evident each time.
When his self-belief and confidence were tested by a tricky opening campaign on Merseyside, Henderson blocked out any white noise and distractions to focus firmly on his football and his future. He had a point to prove, and did so.
Which is why, almost four years after first walking through the Melwood entrance with plenty still to learn, the Englishman could sign a new, long-term Liverpool contract at the training ground today as a player of stature, a role model, a vice-captain.
His story is of a fairytale nature.
Though 2011-12 included three separate starts at Wembley for Henderson and trophy glory in the form of the League Cup, there was bitter disappointment in the FA Cup final against Chelsea and an eighth-place finish.
The man who signed the England international, Kenny Dalglish, handed the managerial reins to Brendan Rodgers after the conclusion of that season. Uncertainty hung over Henderson; "At the start, it wasn't working out how I'd planned," he said. "I wasn't playing much and found it difficult to get into the team.
"But I always still had a good relationship with the manager and I felt as though I could definitely improve under him, even though I wasn't playing as much as I would have liked.
"We had conversations on what I needed to improve on to get into the team, and I had a good feeling that I could definitely do that. I wanted to stay, improve under Brendan Rodgers, show him that I could get into the team and stay there, and I could have a big part to play."
Slowly, not showily, it happened. By the time Rodgers' maiden campaign at the helm had finished, Henderson had clocked up 44 games and contributed six goals to alter assessments of his importance to the Reds.
His determination to play through illness against Queens Park Rangers in December 2012 - featuring for 64 minutes of a 3-0 victory at Loftus Road - imprinted upon the minds of the manager and staff.
All this hard work laid the foundations for last season, when the 24-year-old was equally as influential as Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez and the rest in helping Liverpool come so tantalisingly close to lifting the Barclays Premier League title.
Henderson was named from the start in each of the Reds' 34 games in the division until a late red card in the dramatic 3-2 Anfield victory over Manchester City brought his run to an end. True to his character, the midfielder offered to fulfil the squad's media duties so that his teammates could concentrate on upcoming fixtures.
Such was the evolution that had taken place in the previous two years, when Rodgers appointed a new vice-captain to Gerrard in September 2014, it was the No.14 installed as deputy. The boss said then: "Jordan is someone who represents the best values of what we are all about, as a team and as a club.
"Jordan is completely dedicated to the game and his leadership qualities come from the example he sets. It's another great story for Jordan in his journey as a Liverpool player and it shows the great progress he has made."
Henderson has assumed the added responsibility with gusto, complementing his game with an increased presence in attacking positions and a more polished all-round approach. The honour of wearing the captain's armband for Liverpool has been his on 18 occasions to date.
After the Reds defeated Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in the FA Cup earlier this month, Rodgers shared another short tale that perfectly expressed the player's commitment.
Henderson's partner had given birth to a baby girl during the evening before the replay, prompting him to rush from the team hotel to meet the newest member of his family. But he quickly returned in time for kick-off and to skipper the Reds to a win.
His latest act is to sign a new, long-term contract at Anfield, following in the footsteps of Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho earlier this season in prolonging their stay with the club as part of Rodgers' youthful, exciting and ambitious group.
So here's to you, Jordan Henderson.