Steven Gerrard

At 43 years old, Steven Gerrard has this physical status:

Steven George Gerrard (born 30 May 1980) is an English professional football manager and former player who plays for Scotland's Premiership club Rangers.

He spent the majority of his playing career with Liverpool, with the bulk of his time spent as a club captain as well as captaining the England national team.

Gerrard, who is widely respected as one of the best midfielders of all time, was given the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award in 2005 and the Ballon d'Or Bronze Award.

Zinedine Zidane and Pelé said in 2009 that they considered Gerrard to be the best footballer in the world.

Gerrard, a versatile and well-rounded footballer best known for his leadership, is the only footballer to score in an FA Cup Final, a UEFA Cup Final, and a UEFA Champions League Final, winning on both occasions.

He started working with Liverpool at the age of 17 and made his senior debut in 1998.

Early life

Gerrard was born in Whiston, Merseyside, and second son of Paul and Julie Ann Gerrard. He started playing for Whiston Juniors, where he was noticed by Liverpool scouts; he joined the Liverpool Academy at age nine. John Barnes and Ian Rush at Liverpool, as well as England's Paul Gascoigne for England, were among his childhood football heroes. A garden fork had been embedded in Gerrard's right foot's big toe. Gerrard: my autobiography, he praised Liverpool's academy director Steve Heighway and his father for preventing an operation to amputate his toe.

Despite being a Catholic and living outside the catchment area, Gerrard attended Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School on the recommendation of his primary school teacher, whose husband was a PE teacher there, due to the school's excellent football reputation in the area, which stands out in comparison to other schools. At fourteen, Gerrard had trials with various clubs, but his triumph was not immediate; Gerrard never made it to the England schoolboys' team. He had two trials with Manchester United, one of which he said in his 2006 autobiography was "too pressure Liverpool into giving me a Youth Training Scheme contract." On November 5, 1997, he signed his first professional deal with Liverpool.

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Club career

Gerrard made his first-team debut for Liverpool on November 29, 1998 as a late replacement in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers. In his first season, he made thirteen appearances, replacing injured captain Jamie Redknapp in central midfield. He played on the right wing occasionally, but he barely played in the short match time he received, which he attributed to nerves. "I was out of place and out of my depth," Gerrard recalled in a 2008 interview with The Guardian. Despite this, Liverpool's coaching staff remained confident that they would grow. Gerrard saw himself more as a defensive player rather than a force on the team.

During the 1999–2000 season, Paul Ince, Gerrard, Jr., regularly joined Redknapp in midfield. Robbie Fowler was given his first career red card for a challenge to Everton's Kevin Campbell's upper leg after starting the Merseyside derby on the bench. In a 4–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday, Gerrard scored his first senior goal in his career. However, he began to suffer from persistent back pains, which sports consultant Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt later described as a result of increased growth, as well as heavy playing during his teenage years. He was then confronted with groin injury that necessitated four separate surgeries.

Gerrard made fifty appearances in all competitions in the 2000-2001 season, scoring ten goals. He received his first major accolades with Liverpool—the FA Cup, Football League Cup, and the UEFA Cup—scoring in the final of the last competition this season. His peers named him PFA Young Player of the Year. He won the FA Charity Shield and the UEFA Super Cup the following season. Gerrard scored the first goal in the club's 2–0 victory over Manchester United in the Football League Cup Final, held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in March 2003. Gerrard announced Sami Hypiä as Liverpool captain in October 2003, after a year as vice-captain. Gérard Houllier, the French entrepreneur, said he had recognised Gerrard's leadership abilities early on, but that he had to mature.

Gerrard extended his deal with the club in June 2005, signing a four-year contract. After a trophy-less 2003-2004 season, Houllier resigned as Liverpool boss, and Gerrard was linked to a transfer to Chelsea during the off-season. Gerrard said he was not "happy with the Liverpool team's progress," and that "for the first time in my career, I've been worried about the possibility of moving forward." In the end, Gerrard turned down a £20 million bid from Chelsea and joined Liverpool under new coach Rafael Bentez.

Early in the 2004-2005 season, Liverpool suffered a broken toe against Manchester United's Gerrard in a September league match against Manchester United's Gerrard. Gerrard scored a vital 25-yard half volley in the 86th minute of Liverpool's last Champions League group stage match against Olympiacos on December 8th, advancing the club to the knockout round. "You beauty!," Sky Sports co-commentator Andy Gray exclaims as a result of a strike that culminated in Sky Sports co-commentator Andy Gray's remark, "Oh, you beauty!!

What a hit son!

What a hit!

Gerrard said that this was his most important, if not the best, goal for Liverpool to date." However, Gerrard scored an own goal during the 2005 League Cup final on Saturday, putting the Liverpool 3–2 loss to Chelsea after extra time at the Millennium Stadium.

Liverpool came back from a three-goal deficit to tie the game at 3:3 after extra time, with Gerrard scoring one of the goals and a header from a John Arne Riise cross during a six-minute stretch in the second half of the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan. When Gennaro Gattuso was adjudged to have pulled Gerrard down in Milan's penalty area, Liverpool's third goal was obtained as a result of a foul. Dida saved Xabi Alonso's penalty, but a replay was not earned. Gerrard did not participate in the penalty shoot-out (he was the designated fifth penalty taker) that Liverpool defeated 3–2 in their first Champions League trophy in 20 years, losing their first Champions League trophy in 20 years. The match, nicknamed the Miracle of Istanbul, is widely regarded as one of the best finals in the competition's history, and Gerrard has been lauded as the catalyst for the second half's revival. Gerrard was named Man of the Match and was given the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award later this year.

After the final, Gerrard discussed his employment with Liverpool, asking, "How can I go home after a night like this?" he asked the media. However, negotiations stalled and ended on July 5, 2005, when Liverpool turned down another lucrative bid from Chelsea, Gerrard's chief executive Rick Parry informed Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry that Gerrard was turning down a club-record £100,000-per-week bid. Parry said that Gerrard had been sacked, and that "We now have to move forward." We've done our best, but he's made it clear that he wants to go, and I think it's pretty definitive." Gerrard signed a new four-year contract the next day, after Parry blamed the earlier breakdown of talks on miscommunication between the two sides. On signing the deal, Gerrard said he would rather win one Premier League title with Liverpool than win multiple titles at Chelsea because it would be more to him.

Gerrard scored 23 goals in 53 appearances from 2005 to 2006, and became the first Liverpool player since John Barnes in 1988 to be named PFA Players' Player of the Year in April. He scored twice in the 2006 FA Cup Final against West Ham United, including an injury time 35-yard equalizer that brought the game to extra time, and Liverpool claimed their second major trophy on penalties. The goals made him the only player to have scored in the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup, and Champions League finals, which culminated in a match named The Gerrard Finals. Liverpool won the Champions League semi-finals on penalties in 2006-07, beating Chelsea in Athens by 21-0.

Gerrard suffered a toe fracture in a 2008 Champions League qualifier against Toulouse, but he returned four days later to face Chelsea in the entirety of a 1–1 league match. Gerrard played his 400th game for Liverpool against Arsenal on October 28, 2007, when he scored. He scored in all but one of Liverpool's domestic and European matches during the month of November, and after scoring his first goal against Marseille on December 11, he became the first Liverpool player since John Aldridge in 1989 to score in seven consecutive games in all competitions. In December 2007, Gerrard was voted sixth (after Kaká, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, and Ronaldinho) for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Gerrard scored the first goal in a match against Blackburn Rovers on April 13, 2008, the first goal in the Premier League's season, and he finished the season with twenty-one goals in all competitions, far surpassing his total from 2005–07. Gerrard was chosen for the PFA Player of the Year, and he also was one of the nominees or PFA Players' Player of the Year, alongside teammate Fernando Torres.

Gerrard had to have groin surgery at the start of the 2008–09 season, but the problem was not serious, and he quickly returned to training. On September 20, he scored what seemed to be his 100th goal for Liverpool in his career against Stoke City, but it was disallowed after Dirk Kuyt was declared offside. He won the Champions League group stage by beating PSV 3–1 on Monday, just 11 days later.

In a 4–0 win over Real Madrid on 10 March 9, he made his 100th appearance in European club competition for Liverpool, scoring twice. Liverpool defeated Manchester United on 4-1 victory after the victory over Real. Gerrard will score at Old Trafford for the first time from the penalty spot, putting Liverpool ahead of a 4–1 victory over Manchester United. Following these achievements, three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane praised Gerrard as the world's best player. Gerrard scored his first hat-trick in the Premier League on March 22, 2009, beating Aston Villa 5–0.

Gerrard was named the 2009 Football Writer's Association Footballer of the Year on May 13, 2009, defeating Ryan Giggs by just 10 votes and becoming the first Liverpool player to win the award in nineteen years. Gerrard was thrilled and "a little bit surprised" to win the award. Gerrard made his 500th appearance for Liverpool at Blackburn on December 5, 2009. He finished the 2009–10 season with 12 goals and nine assists from 46 games.

Rafael Bentez left Liverpool after six years and was appointed as manager by Roy Hodgson, who quickly told fans that Gerrard would not be sold. Gerrard wrote a letter expressing his excitement with Liverpool's upcoming season and lauding Joe Cole's signing to dismiss any rumors regarding his future at the club. Gerrard was quickly matched against Borussia Mönchengladbach on August 1, 2010 in his first pre-season match of the 2010-11 season.

Gerrard scored his first goal of the 2010-11 season against Macedonian side FK Rabotnia on August 5, 2010. His next two goals came on September 19th in a 3–2 loss to Manchester United; he scored from a penalty kick in the 64th minute and a free-kick six minutes later to tie the game at 2–2. In a 2–2 home draw with Sunderland, he tied it up a week later with his second equalizer. In a 3–1 victory over Napoli in the Europa League, eleven days later, Gerrard came off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick.

Gerrard missed the 2011-12 season due to a groin injury that had also kept him out of action for major portions of the previous season. Gerrard later revealed that he had turned down the chance to join Bayern Munich in the summer and that "a traditional club like Liverpool still has a value, and that's the reason why I've stuck around for so long" rather than going down the simple road and finding something that is much more difficult."

Gerrard underwent surgery on October 29 to remove an infection in his right ankle, which was placed in a protective plaster cast. He was forced to miss Liverpool's league match against West Bromwich Albion that day and was banned from playing against Swansea City the next week and England's friendly matches against Sweden and Spain the week after that. Gerrard came off the bench against Newcastle United on December 30th and scored a fine goal.

Liverpool defeated Manchester City 3–2 on aggregate in the semi-finals, with Gerrard helping them reach their first cup final in six years and their first at Wembley Stadium in 18 years. Liverpool defeated Cardiff City on February 26, 2012, with Gerrard scoring a penalty in both legs to advance to the 2012 Football League Cup Final against Cardiff City, which Liverpool won on penalties. Gerrard scored a hat-trick on his 400th Premier League appearance for Liverpool, giving Liverpool a 3–0 win over rival Everton in the Merseyside derby on March 13.

Gerrard played his 250th game as Liverpool captain on August 18, 2012. In a 2–1 loss to Manchester United that morning, he scored his first Premier League goal of the season on September 23rd, opening the scoring.

Gerrard signed a new deal with Liverpool on July 15, 2013. Liverpool defeated Olympiacos on August 3rd, arguably his most celebrated goal against whom Gerrard scored on his own at Anfield for Gerrard's charity fund-raising testimonial match. Liverpool defeated the match 2–0, in a game where past players, such as Jamie Carragher and Robbie Fowler, were present. Gerrard is a founding member of Alder Hey Children's Charity, which raises £500,000 from the proceeds. Gerrard scored in a 3–1 victory over Crystal Palace on October 5th, becoming Liverpool's first ever player to score in 15 consecutive league campaigns, beating the record set by Billy Liddell in 1959. He was also the longest-serving Liverpool captain ten years after his appointment by Gérard Houllier on October 15, 2013, breaking the previous record held by Alex Raisbeck, who captained Liverpool from 1899 to 1909.

Gerrard scored his 100th Premier League goal, a penalty against Newcastle United on October 19 in a 2–2 draw. In Liverpool's 3–0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 16, 2014, Gerrard scored two goals and missed another. Liverpool's top goalcorer in the match is Jose Miguel, who has nine goals against arch rivals Manchester United. Liverpool beat West Ham United 2–1 to go top of the Premier League table with five matches remaining on Friday, with David Saunders scoring two more goals on Thursday. He finished above Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool's sixth-top goalscorer of all time with these goals.

Gerrard was involved in what was later described as a pivotal moment of the 2013-14 Premier League season, where Liverpool would finish second on April 27th. Liverpool finished ranked in the league when they met Chelsea in their third last game of the season. Gerrard slipped after receiving a pass that allowed Demba Ba to score the first goal for Chelsea; Chelsea went on to win 2–0, meaning Liverpool's championship hopes were no longer in their hands. Gerrard had 13 goals and the League's most assists at 13. Gerrard was a candidate for the PFA Player of the Year award that year, and he received the 2014 Liverpool Echo Sports Personality Award. "The worst three months of my life" later in life, Gerrard would later refer to this period as "the worst three months of my life."

Gerrard ruled out retirement at the end of the 2014–15 season in October 2014 and said he could transfer to another club if he were not offered a new deal at Liverpool. Gerrard revealed on January 1, 2015, that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season. Gerrard said he would have signed a new deal if it had been offered in the offseason, but that the club did not make an offer until November. Brendan Rodgers had spoken to him about governing his playing time and was left out of the Champions League's starting lineup against Real Madrid, contributing to his decision to leave Liverpool. Gerrard's goal against Basel in the Champions League's final group stage game of the tournament was his 30th goal in the tournament before it was surpassed by Mohamed Salah in 2021. Gerrard scored two goals in his first game after announcing his retirement in a 2–1 win at AFC Wimbledon on January 5th. This was his first game in a row since July 2005. In an FA Cup tie against Bolton on February 4, he made his 700th appearance for Liverpool.

Gerrard was released 38 seconds after starting as a halftime replacement in a match against Manchester United on March 22nd for stamping on Ander Herrera. On April 25, Gerrard made his 500th appearance for Liverpool in a goalless draw against West Brom; he became only the third player to play 500 or more Premier League appearances for one club since Ryan Giggs and former teammate Jamie Carragher. He was playing for Liverpool at Anfield against Crystal Palace in a 3–1 loss on May 16th. He made his last game for the club eight days later in a 6–1 loss at Stoke, with Gerrard scoring Liverpool's only goal of the game.

The Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS) announced the signing of Gerrard to an 18-month Designated Player contract, reportedly worth $9 million. Following the 2014–15 Premier League season, he joined the team in July. Gerrard made his Ignacio Maganto debut in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on July 11, beating Real Salt Lake 1–0. During a 5–2 loss to fellow Californians the San Jose Earthquakes at the StubHub Center, he made his MLS debut on July 17th, scoring once and assisting one goal of his former Liverpool teammate Robbie Keane's hat-trick, as well as assisting one goal. Gerrard was one of the 22 players to be drafted to the 2015 MLS All-Star Game roster last month. He made 13 appearances in the regular season, scoring one more goal on the team's last game, a 3–2 home win over FC Dallas on September 27.

Gerrard, who was barred from the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs by Seattle Sounders FC, said he could retire in 2016, citing unexpected challenges, including the varied altitude and weather in the United States.

In a MLS Cup Playoff penalty shoot-out loss to Colorado Rapids on November 6, Gerrard played his last game for the Galaxy on November 6, 2016. Gerrard scored Los Angeles' first spot-kick, but the team was disqualified after Giovani dos Santos and Ashley Cole failed to convert. Nine days later, he announced that he would leave before the end of his deal comes to an end. On the 24th of November, he declared his retirement from professional football at the age of 36.

International career

On May 31, 2000, Gerrard made his international debut against Ukraine. He was called up for UEFA Euro 2000, but he made only one appearance as a substitute in a 1–0 victory over Germany over the group stage before England was ruled out. He scored his first international goal in Liverpool's historic 5–1 win over Germany in a 2002 World Cup qualifier, and although England qualified, Gerrard was forced to withdraw from the team due to his persistent groin problems after pulling up against Ipswich in Liverpool's final match of the season.

Gerrard won the inaugural 2004 FA Summer Tournament, his only trophy with the national team in his career. Gerrard scored his second goal for the national team in a 2–2 draw on October 16th, 2004, his third goal was the opener in a 2–1 victory over Serbia and Montenegro on June 3, 2003. He was a regular starter in England's victory over Switzerland in England's second Group game of the tournament, scoring once to make it 3–0, but England will be eliminated by Portugal in the quarter-finals losing 6–5 on penalties, but England will be eliminated by the tournament hosts Portugal in the second Group game of the tournament, losing 6–5 on penalties in a match where Gerrard was forced off in the 81st minute for Owen Hargreaves.

In 2006, he played in his first World Cup, scoring two goals, both in the group, against Trinidad and Tobago, and Sweden, although goalkeeper Ricardo's spot-kick was one of three that were saved by goalkeeper Ricardo as England fell out to Portugal in the quarterfinals on penalties. He was England's top scorer in the tournament.

Gerrard was named vice-captain of the England squad by coach Steve McClaren, and although he stepped in for John Terry as captain, the team suffered back-to-back losses to Russia and Croatia that ended their Euro 2008 qualifying hopes. Gerrard was given a trial run as captain after new coach Fabio Capello took over the team in early 2008, but Capello decided against Terry for the position. By Rio Ferdinand, Gerrard was subsequently recalled as England vice-captain.

Gerrard helped England prepare for the 2010 World Cup by scoring two goals in England's 5–1 victory over Croatia. Following rumors of the former's personal life, Rio Ferdinand recalled him as captain in 2010, and Gerrard became vice-captain again in 2010. Gerrard, the England team's most experienced player in the team with 80 caps, was the most senior player in the squad when the England squad entered the 2010 World Cup. Rio Ferdinand was ill during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but Capello named Gerrard as the tournament's captain.

Despite Capello's remark that the team will rebuild, Gerrard, part of a group of England players dubbed the "Golden Generation," has confirmed that he will continue to be available for selection.

Gerrard scored twice in a friendly match against Hungary in August 2010 and helped England win by a 2–1 victory. Gerrard retained captaincy for the first match of the Euro 2012 qualifying series against Bulgaria, which England defeated 4–0 due to Ferdinand's continued absence due to injury. He was later named permanent captain by new coach Roy Hodgson, just in time for the tournament finals.

This was the first time he was named explicitly as the captain of England rather than in lieu of an injured or inactive captain. England finished second in the qualifying round and advanced to the quarterfinals after three players and two man of the match awards. Despite losing on penalties to Italy, Gerrard was later named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament's first England player to be named. In a friendly match against Sweden on November 14, Gerrard earned his 100th cap for England.

Gerrard led England to their first group stage elimination since 1958, and their first elimination after only two matches against Italy and Uruguay. Gerrard had played a part in both goals against Uruguay due to his teammate, Luis Suárez. Gerrard was recalled as captain by Frank Lampard and used as a replacement in England's last game against Costa Rica.

Gerrard resigned from international football on July 21. He played for England 114 times (currently the fourth most capped player), scoring 21 goals. Gerrard was dubbed "probably the best player this country has ever seen," not only as a player, but also as a leader and a captain," according to Jordan Henderson.

Managerial career

Gerrard held an interview for the vacant managerial role at Milton Keynes Dons in November 2016, but said he was not ready for the position.

He was appointed youth coach at Liverpool in January 2017, beginning in February. After impressing Jürgen Klopp and Alex Inglethorpe with his work ethic, knowledge, and attitude towards academy coaching, Gerrard was revealed on April 11th. However, Gerrard took on his coaching credentials before embarking on the Liverpool shirt for the final time in a friendly against Australian club Sydney FC at the end of this Premier League campaign. Gerrard will head the Under-19 team in the 2017-18 UEFA Youth League, the club announced on September 7th.

Gerrard began negotiations to become the new manager of Rangers' Scottish Premiership club. Graeme Murty, the club's incumbent, was fired on May 1sty, with the club announcing three days later that Gerrard would replace him from 1 June, ahead of the 2018-19 season, where he will begin with a four-year deal. On July 12, he made his senior managerial debut when Rangers defeated Macedonia in a 2–0 UEFA Europa League victory over Shkupi. A 1–1 draw against Aberdeen was Gerrard's first game in charge of the domestic league, away from home. Rangers went undefeated in all leagues from the start of the season to defeating Celtic 1–0 in the Old Firm derby on September 2nd. Rangers beat Celtic 1-0 on December 29th in a game that ended with a 1–0 scoreline.

Gerrard had been linked with a return to the Premier League ahead of the 2019-2020 season after being pushed out of the managerial role at Newcastle United. Rafael Bentez, the former Liverpool manager, who left the club at the end of his deal, would have been recalled following the move. Gerrard is believed to have declined to take over as the club's manager because he was at ease with Rangers.

Gerrard led Rangers through a record-breaking season, winning back-to-back derby victories over Celtic and tops their Europa League table during the 2020-2021 season. Rangers captured the Scottish Premiership without losing a single league match on March 7, 2021, winning their first Premiership title.

Gerrard was named head coach at Aston Villa in the Premier League on a three-and-a-half year, replacing Dean Smith, who was fired four days earlier. Rangers received around £4 million in compensation for their release from his employment. In his first game as coach, he led the club to a 2–0 home win over Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League. The team finished the season in 14th place, three places lower than the previous year, and under Gerrard's leadership, the results were generally mixed.

Gerrard was dismissed by Villa on October 2022 after winning just two of their first 12 league games of the 2022-23 season.

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