Steven Gerrard has retired from professional football. The Liverpool great announced this morning that his 19-year spell at the top of the beautiful game has come to an end following the expiration of his contract in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles Galaxy, and it’s fair to say Reds fans are emotional as a result of the news.
Following recent media speculation surrounding my future I can confirm my retirement from playing professional football.I have had an incredible career and am thankful for each and every moment of my time at Liverpool, England and LA Galaxy. I feel very fortunate to have had the career I’ve had but none of it would have been possible without the support of so many people. Firstly, I would like to thank everyone at Liverpool Football Club. I am proud to have played for and captained Liverpool for so many years and to have achieved what we achieved during my time at the club. I was lucky to play alongside some great players and under some fantastic managers during my time at Anfield and would like to thank each and every one of them, as well as all of the backroom staff at the club for the fantastic support they showed me. I would like to say a special thank you to Steve Heighway, Dave Shannon and Hugh McAuley for believing in me when I was making my way at Liverpool and for giving me the platform to go on and fulfil my dreams. Thank you to the amazing fans of Liverpool, England and LA Galaxy for the incredible backing you have given me throughout my career. Your loyalty and support has meant the world. I would like to thank Struan Marshall, my agent throughout my career, and the team at Wasserman for all of their support over the past 18 years. I feel lucky to have had such a close group of friends that I have always been able to count and rely on throughout the course of my career. Thank you to all of you. Finally, the most important thank you; to my family. I cannot thank my Mum, Dad and brother Paul enough for their unconditional support over the years, it has meant everything to me. To my wife Alex and children Lily, Lexie and Lourdes, thank you for the constant love and support you’ve shown me. You’ve been there through the good times and the bad and without you nothing would have been possible. Thank you for everything. I am excited about the future and feel I still have a lot to offer the game. I am currently taking my time to consider a number of options and will make an announcement with regards to the next stage of my career very soon.A photo posted by Steven Gerrard (@stevengerrard) on Nov 24, 2016 at 3:35am PST
Although one last go at Anfield was never truly on the cards, Kopites remained hopeful of seeing, arguably, the greatest ever player don the red shirt once again, but any Merseyside return will now be in a coaching capacity, and may not be for a few years.
Alas, now is not a time for sadness, as we must reflect on the career of one of English football’s all-time legends. So, without further ado, here are the midfielder’s FIVE greatest moments (it was a tough selection, too!)
5 – Old Trafford camera kiss
Although the 2008/09 season ended with Manchester United beating Liverpool to the title, the Reds’ 4-1 win at Old Trafford goes down as one of the Premier League’s iconic matches. Rafa Benitez’s side were simply irresistible on that sunny March afternoon, with Fernando Torres in particular effective.
Gerrard, though, really got in on the act when he netted a penalty (which he has been hauled down by Patrice Evra for) and the following celebration will always be remembered. The midfielder ran to the TV camera in the corner of the pitch before planting a smooch on the lens. What a moment.
4 – Germany 1-5 England
Despite being England captain, Gerrard’s Three Lions career may not be looked back at too favourably. The midfielder by no means disgraced himself in the white shirt, but as part of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’, the reality didn’t align with the expectation.
Early on in his national team days (his sixth game, to be precise), Gerrard contributed to the 5-1 win against the old enemy, Germany, netting his first goal for his country in the process. It just happened to be an absolute cracker, too!
3 – ‘You beaaaaaaauuuuuuutyyyyyy’
Andy Gray may not be the most popular man among Liverpool fans (or the wider footballing public), but his commentary in a 2004 Champions League clash at Anfield is the backdrop to one of Gerrard’s greatest moments. We all know how 2004/05 ended for the Reds, but it was so nearly over before it had really started and the eventual big prize owes a lot to a late half-volley at the Kop end fro the big man himself.
Needing to win by two clear goals to advance to the knockout round of the Champions League, Liverpool had fought back from 1-0 down to a Rivaldo-inspired Olympiakos, but with the seconds ticking away it looked like it may not be enough. We all know now that the captain stepped up to smash home from 25 yards, and it’s one of the moments Kopites see when they close their eyes at night.
2 – ‘The Gerrard Final’
The mid-2000s were Gerrard’s peak years and, perhaps, his greatest ever performance came in the 2006 FA Cup final. Nicknamed ‘the Gerrard Final’, the 120+-minutes at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium were decided by the midfielder, who dragged his side kicking and screaming to the trophy, despite having trailed West Ham twice in normal time.
Gerrard netted the first equaliser to make it 2-2 after 54 minutes, but he’ll be forever remembered for his long-range leveller in injury time after the Hammers had looked top put themselves on course for silverware courtesy of a freak Paul Konchesky goal. The skipper netted in the penalty shoot-out, too.
1 – Istanbul
Could it be anything else? The 2005 Champions League Final may well go down as the best ever comeback, with Gerrard a driving force in that night in Istanbul. Trailing 3-0 at half-time to one of the best AC Milan sides in their history, the midfielder netted the first goal with an often overlooked header, which inspired Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso’s goals and the eventual penalty shoot-out win.
Although not as influential as he was in the following year’s FA Cup Final, lifting the Champions League trophy has to go down as Gerrard’s finest achievement.
