Stéphane Henchoz, born 7 September 1974 in Switzerland, cut a commanding figure in the defensive half of the pitch. Standing at 6ft 2in (1.88m) and weighing 13st (83kg), Henchoz found his footballing roots as a central defender. His career started at Neuchatel Xamax FC in the Swiss Challenge League, joining the club in July 1992. Over three seasons at Neuchatel Xamax FC, Henchoz racked up league appearances in the thirties each season, scoring his only two goals for the team during his second season (1993-1994).
A move to Germany followed, with Henchoz making the switch to Hamburg in the 2. Bundesliga in July 1995. Following a season of regular play and two goals, Henchoz's appearances dipped in his second year with the German side. A change of league then was on the horizon. June 1997 marked his transfer to Blackburn Rovers for a fee around £2.5m, a move which took his professional career to the English Championship.
In England, Henchoz continued his consistent appearances in his first two seasons. His final season (2006-2007) at Blackburn was tainted with reduced play time, only making it onto the pitch for 11 league matches. A switch of sides was imminent, with a transfer to Liverpool in the Premier League for roughly £3.5m in July 1999. Henchoz spent five seasons at Liverpool, making between 18 and 37 appearances each season.
The turn of 2005 was a significant moment in his career, as Henchoz made the move north of the English border to join the ranks of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. Unfortunately, his stint in Scotland was short, and Henchoz made only five league appearances for Celtic. A return to England followed swiftly, with Henchoz moving to Wigan Athletic in League One in July 2005. After one season of regular play at Wigan, Henchoz rejoined Blackburn Rovers in the Championship in September 2006, with the last of his professional appearances coming in the 2006-2007 season. His footballing career came to a close in May 2008, after which Henchoz moved on from Blackburn Rovers.
