There has been an outpour of heartfelt tributes to Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard since he announced his retirement from professional football. yesterday. The likes of David Beckham, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Fernando Torres, Patrice Evra, Frank Lampard have taken to their social media platforms to eulogize the former England captain and wish him a happy retirement.
In other news, reports claim Gerrard is close to agreeing a role to coach at LFC’s academy.
Barcelona’s Messi wrote: “Personally, I think Gerrard is England’s greatest ever player. I wish him a happy retirement.”
Kaka added : We were rivals for a long time and we lived unforgettable finals…@stevengerrard congratulations on your incredible career. Football is thankful to you. Happy retirement champion!
Patrice Evra said: “The most consistent English player and a real captain! What a player.”
” The Legend forever” Xabi Alonso wrote.
Thierry Henry chipped in. ” I’ve always said I would have loved to play with this man Steven Gerrard. What a legend and what a career. #Respect #Leader”
David Beckham’s Tribute below
Steven Gerrard announces retirement from professional football.
We knew he was quitting the MLS but what we never saw coming was his decision to stop lacing the boots. Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard has announced his retirement from professional football after an illustrious 19- year career. In a lengthy post he made on his instagram page, the 36 year-old thanked his teammates, coaches and family adding that he will announce the next stage of his career soon.
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.
Steven Gerrard’s career honours:
League Cup – 3
FA Cup – 2
Champions League – 1
Community Shield – 1
UEFA Cup – 1
UEFA Super Cup – 1
Ultimate Team Of The Year: Meet UEFA's All-Time XI
UEFA today unveiled their all-time XI as the Team of the Year 2016 vote launches today!
The football governing body also explained why the select footballers made it to the team.
Meet the nominees!
Iker Casillas (Goalkeeper) – Real Madrid/Porto & Spain
Spain’s captain at UEFA EURO 2008 and 2012 also lifted the 2010 FIFA World Cup – three of the six times he made it into Team of the Year. Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Buffon (three selections each) are his main (albeit distant) rivals for the No 1 shirt.
Carles Puyol (Defender) – Barcelona & Spain
Enjoyed a golden run from 2005 onwards, winning the UEFA Champions League with Barça in 2006, 2009 and 2011, and UEFA EURO 2008 and the 2010 World Cup as cornerstone of his country’s defence.
Philipp Lahm (Defender) – Bayern München & Germany
One of Europe’s most consistent performers of the past decade, Lahm’s run of three successive Team of the Year appearances came to an end in 2015.
Sergio Ramos (Defender)– Real Madrid & Spain
Four selections in a row are a measure of the Real Madrid man’s standing, the defender having earlier been rewarded for his role in helping Spain to UEFA EURO 2008 glory.
Gerard Piqué (Defender) – Barcelona & Spain
One of four defenders to have been chosen four times along with Alessandro Nesta, Daniel Alves and John Terry, Piqué squeezes into the XI on a tie-breaker by virtue of having been nominated seven times – while his three rivals received only six nominations each.
Xavi Hernández (midfielder)– Barcelona & Spain
A contender in 2005, it was not until his second involvement in 2008 that Xavi made the cut – then there was no dislodging him as unprecedented success with club and country kept him in the side for five years running.
Andrés Iniesta (midfielder) – Barcelona & Spain
Like midfield partner Xavi, once he forced his way into the Team of the Year Iniesta proved impossible to remove until 2013, but returned in splendour in 2015.
Steven Gerrard (midfielder) – Liverpool & England
One of five midfielders to have been selected three times, seven nominations were key to taking the Liverpool talisman into the ultimate XI at the expense of Kaká (five nominations), Ronaldinho (four), Pavel Nedvěd (three) and Zinédine Zidane (three).
Cristiano Ronaldo (forward) – Manchester United/Real Madrid & Portugal
Nominated a record 13 times, the Portuguese phenomenon has been included in the Team of the Year no fewer than ten occasions, three more than any other player. The 2015 team marked his ninth appearance in a row.
Lionel Messi (forward) – Barcelona & Argentina
Like Ronaldo, Messi was initially categorised as a midfielder – collecting the first of ten successive nominations in 2006 – and has missed out on the Team of the Year just once, in 2013, since his 2008 debut.
Thierry Henry (forward) – Arsenal & France
Nominated for the first six editions, Henry’s consistency was such that he got into the final selection no fewer than five times, including the first four – the only player to achieve that.
Source
I’ll never be at peace – Steven Gerrard
Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard has revealed that when he thinks about all the extra medals he could have won in his 17-year career, he will never be at peace.
The former England captain who now plays for MLS side LA Galaxy has won a Champions League, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups and two Community Shields but he wishes they were more.
He told the Telegraph, ‘You look back at the highs and the lows.
‘I always recognise that I achieved some incredible things. But I also reflect on some of the lows and wish that they were different, that I had achieved a little more.
‘I don’t think I’ll ever be at peace. When it comes to football, I’m quite hungry, quite selfish.
‘I want more than perhaps I can have. Maybe I’m a bit like a kid, a bit immature, when it comes down to that. I wish I was sitting here with an extra 10 medals.’
Mourinho was right about Balotelli – Steven Gerrard.
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Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, in his book My Story, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail described Italian forward, Mario Balotelli “unmanageable”.
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, in his book My Story, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail described Italian forward, Mario Balotelli “unmanageable”.
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The 25 year-old returned to AC Milan a month back after he couldn’t find his feet at the English club. Gerrard in his book revealed that Balotelli “lapsed in training and the subsequent games. His demeanour was very poor. I made my up mind pretty quickly after that about Balotelli.
The 25 year-old returned to AC Milan a month back after he couldn’t find his feet at the English club. Gerrard in his book revealed that Balotelli “lapsed in training and the subsequent games. His demeanour was very poor. I made my up mind pretty quickly after that about Balotelli.
“We got on fine. I still tried to help him and I kept looking for chances to praise him but I could see why Mourinho had been right when he said Balotelli is unmanageable.
“He is very talented with the potential to be world class, but he’ll never get there because of his mentality and the people around him. Balotelli’s always late, he always wants attention.”
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The LA Galaxy midfielder added that, “He made an immediate impression when we were doing work on our defensive set pieces and Balotelli said to Brendan: ‘I don’t mark on corners. I can’t.’
The LA Galaxy midfielder added that, “He made an immediate impression when we were doing work on our defensive set pieces and Balotelli said to Brendan: ‘I don’t mark on corners. I can’t.’
“Brendan was very firm. He said to Balotelli: ‘Well, you can now — and if you can’t then you’re going to learn.'”
Gerard makes his debut in a friendly
Steven Gerrard played his first game in the colors of LA Galaxy in a pre-season friendly against Club America. The ex-liverpool captain featured in the first half of the game which his team went on to win 2-1 courtesy goals from Robbie Keane and Alan Gordon.
Bruce Arena, manager of LA Galaxy, said the 35yr old’s performance was encouraging
“his passing was very good. His partnership with Juninho was good. He won some tackles, helped create some chances. He could have had a goal. Steven played well” he said.
Steven Gerard presented as LA Galaxy player.
Major League Soccer side, LA Galaxy announced and presented Steven Gerard as its latest addition on Tuesday. Steven Gerard who only just moved to the second club of his entire professional football career expressed his satisfaction with the standard of training and improvement of the league.
He joins other stars like Kaka, David Villa, Frank Lampard, Giovinco, Clint Dempsey, etc. Who also plies their trade in the league.
Juan Mata pays tribute to Gerrard, Drogba , Lampard,others in new blog post
Manchester United player and blogger, Juan Mata has paid tribute to Premier League legends, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, some of whom bade farewell to their clubs after their gamed. He titled his blog post, ‘It’s over now… but we’ll be back stronger!’. Read below.
Hi everyone,
This is my last blog’s entry of the season and I say goodbye until the next one. I hope you have enjoyed this weekly encounter as much as I have. You know, in the good times… and in the bad ones too.
This is the end of a season with mixed feelings. In some stages we played very good football, being very competitive especially against our main rivals, and we enjoyed some important wins; on the other hand, there were periods when we were not consistent enough to fight for the title, or suffered some painful defeats.
In general terms, we reached the main goal of the club this season: to have the chance to play the Champions League (we still have to earn it in the play-off round), but this team has to fight for trophies, and we will put all our efforts to that after summer. That’s what you deserve.
We finished the season with a draw at Hull that also meant the local team was relegated. It’s not nice to experience something like that on-site, unfortunately this is not the first time I see it. As I said, we approached this game in the most professional way, trying to win. At the end, our draw, plus Newcastle’s victory, leave Hull in the relegation zone.
My support to their fans, we hope to see you back in the Premier League soon. By the way, Jonás goal for Newcastle tells a lot about life and the way to overcome the real problems.
In our game, my friend Víctor Valdés appeared in United’s starting XI for the first time. It was a great experience for him and also a reward to his good job at the training ground every week. On top of that, he completed a great game with a few big saves.
From a personal point of view, according to the stats I have played 2,420 minutes, scoring 10 goals and giving 4 assists. They are good numbers but, as always, I’ll try to get better year after year ;-). I hope to keep contributing goals and assists to achieve big things with the team.
Being the last week of the Premier League, we have seen a few farewells and some of them very significant. Like Steven Gerrard’s, for instance. I mentioned him a week ago for his relevance and contribution to the history of football.
The same thing can be said, of course, about Frank Lampard, one of the best team-mates I have ever had and someone I have learnt a lot from. A true legend in both English and world football. I wish him all the best in his new stage in the United States and I thank him for his treatment to me at all times. And I don’t forget another great player and former team-mate, Didier Drogba, one of the best strikers the Premier League has ever seen and a phenomenal guy in every sense.
With so many legends leaving, a good part of football’s history in England is leaving too.
Since we played on Sunday, I had time on Saturday to watch the games in la Liga, where the last minutes were absolutely thrilling. All of us who have played there followed the end of the championship with a lot of interest.
At the Camp Nou, Xavi, a fantastic player, said goodbye to la Liga in Spain. He still has to play the Cup final at the same stadium against Athletic, and that will be Iraola’s farewell too. The last game brought joy to Valencia and Granada.
I’m happy especially for my friends from Valencia –you guys deserve to be in the Champions League always– and for Paco Alcácer in particular, a gem of their football academy, a great striker and a great guy.
On the other hand, I feel sorry for Eibar’s relegation, a modest club but also an exemplary one. I hope they can enjoy good times soon.
And, of course, I hope Real Oviedo can certify their promotion to the Second Division against Cádiz the next weekend, after a draw in the first leg.
The atmosphere in the Carlos Tartiere was simply amazing. The stadium was absolutely full of fans committed to make the dream come true. I hope we can make it this year.
I’m starting to say goodbye… Now it’s time to switch off, to rest and get our strength back with a view to the exciting next season. I’ll see you soon in the tour of the United States. We had a fantastic experience there last summer and we hope to repeat in a few months.
Thank you very much for your support in each and every game, you make this sport big and make us feel very proud. We are looking forward to achieve big things all together. Have a great summer!
Hugs!
Juan
Photos: Steven Gerrard bids emotional farewell to Anfield+ his speech
It was indeed an emotional moment for English football and fans of Liverpool FC as the club’s legend, Steven Gerrard made his final Anfield appearance today.
Unfortunately, the game at the club ended in humbling defeat as beat Liverpool 3-1. Friends, colleagues and fans also took to the social media to pay tribute to the player who joined the club in 1998. Read his emotional farewell speech below.
“It felt very strange [stepping out at Anfield for the last time]. I’ve been dreading this moment. I’m going to miss it so much. I’ve loved every minute of it and I’m absolutely devastated I’m not going to play in front of these supporters again.
“It’s very difficult to pick one. The very first time I ran out, thanks to this man here [Gerard Houllier] is a moment I’ll never forget. The first time you play for Liverpool is a dream come true. Everything else after that was a bonus for me. The very first time to play for Liverpool was an absolute dream.
“The club’s in good hands. We’ve got fantastic owners. We’ve got Ian [Ayre, chief executive] underneath that and a fantastic manager in Brendan [Rodgers]. As you can see there’s unbelievable potential in the squad. I’m sure that there’s going to be some new signings in the coming weeks but I look at the players in front of me who I’ve shared a dressing room with for many years, I absolutely love them to death and I wish them every success in the future.
“First and foremost I want to thank everyone at the club whose helped me over the last 17 years. From top to bottom there’s too many people to name. I’d like to thank all my team-mates today, and the squad, even the players that didn’t get on. All the ex-players that I’ve played with over the years, they’ve made me the player I am today. But I have to save my last thank you to the most important people at any football club but these supporters stand out more than anything I’ve experienced.
“Just before I go, before the tears come… I’ve played in front of most supporters around the world but let me tell you, you are the best. Thank you very much, all the best.”
Mourinho pays tribute to his favourite enemy, Steven Gerrard.
Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho has paid tribute to Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard whose
Anfield career ended today.
The Special One heaped praises on the English footballer ahead of The Blues and Liverpool clash today and added that he will miss his favourite enemy who made him a “better manager”.
“My dear enemy, he has made me a better manager because to stop him has been very difficult,” Mourinho said.
The Portuguese also revealed that he tried to sign him three times; at Stamford Bridge, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
“It’s too late to sign him. He can’t play against Liverpool. He’s done an amazing career with his people. He refused to play in other big clubs, other big leagues, to play only for Liverpool and this is a feeling that stays together.
“Who knows if I’ll play against Steven as a Liverpool manager some day?” he concluded.
Gerrard’s spell at Liverpool has spanned nearly 17 years and included 10 trophies, 695 appearances and over180 goals. He’s signed for MLS side, LA Galaxy