When the curtain closed on the 2014/15 season, we said goodbye to a legendary footballer . We bid farewell to one of the best midfielder of our generation. No matter where your loyalties lie, You can’t deny his class and talent at the middle of the park. He has been a much missed figure around the league and at Anfield, where he played for a remarkable 17 years .
Although he has famously never lifted the English Premier League title, he left Liverpool with numerous trophies and fantastic memories.
He’s been the lynch-pin at one of the biggest clubs in England which means that he has been under public scrutiny for a long time. Despite this, he has never made the headlines for the wrong reasons and has always put a class act on and off the pitch.
Gerrard was born and raised in Whiston, Merseyside. He joined Liverpool at the tender age of 9. At the age of 17, signed his first professional contract and and made his debut in the first team in the year 1998. In his 17 years at the club. He won 2 FA cups, 3 league cups, 1 UEFA cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 UEFA Champions league cup and 1 Community Shield Cup.
Gerrard is capable of playing in a number of positions. He is a hardworking box to box player who is also capable of playing as a holding midfielder, an attacking midfielder, second striker and even as a right winger. He is a natural right footed player who is capable of scoring long distance goals with both his feet.
He possessed good technical and aerial abilities along with defensive attributes. His ability to read the game followed by his leadership skills and influential nature, made him a formidable player on the pitch.
The things we didn’t know about Gerrard:
1. Gerrard had an injury that could’ve stopped his career from going any further. While playing with friends, the ball had gone into a fence. Gerrard in an attempt to kick it, kicked the garden fork instead, the fork pierced through the boot and straight into his big toe. Doctors advised the toe should be amputated to avoid tetanus. However, the Liverpool doctors went against it. It worked and Gerrard and continued his career.
2. The Liverpool legend had a trial at Manchester United. At the age of 13, Gerrard in an attempt to pressurize Liverpool into giving him more chances, went on to give trial at the Old Trafford. He even got a letter from them, showing their intent to sign him on a 7 year deal.
3. Gerrard admired Liverpool players Peter Beardleys and John Barnes as a child. Gerrard said, “I was captain of my school side and I used to go along to Anfield to watch the team and I always looked up to people like John Barnes who captained the team during the 90s. I looked at him and thought that one day I’d manage my favourite team as well .”
- Gerrard has the most number of red cards for a Liverpool player . He has a record 6 red card. Carragher and Mascherano are jointly in second place with 3 red cards each.
5 . Gerrard appeared in a British film titled “WILL” alongside Kenny Dalglish and Jamie Carragher. The story revolves around a boy’s journey of trekking from Britain to Istanbul to watch Liverpool play the UEFA Champions League Final.
6 . Gerrard has a soft spot for cars. The cars which he has owned include Jaguar XKR Convertible, Bentley GTC, Aston Martin Vanquish, Mercedes SLK, Range Rover Sport, Ferrari F430 and Porsche 911 turbo.
