It's been 20 years since Steven Gerrard's Liverpool debut. Aside from being the greatest midfielder to ever grace the Premier League, he was also one of the most complete players in the history of the sport.
A thread.
17 years as a senior pro at Liverpool
710 apps
186 goals
115 assists
Most CL goals in the clubs history (30)
114 England caps in the golden generation
1 x CL trophy
2 x FA Cups
3 x league cups
1 x UEFA cup
21 England goals
12 years as Liverpool captain (since the age of 23)
The only player in history to score in an FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and UEFA Cup Final(also winning on each occasion). The big stage wasn't for many but he was so often the man who made the difference.
He lived for the big occasions.
This is by no means a dig but Paul Scholes' international career ended prematurely in 2004 because a 24 year old Steven Gerrard was preferred in central midfield. There was no way a play of Stevie's calibre was ever going to be left out.
His personal accolades really were something else, here are some of the notable ones:
- Ballon d'Or 3rd place 2005
- UEFA club footballer of the year 2005
- PFA players POTY 05/06
- PFA players TOTY - 01/02, 03/04, 04/05, 05/06, 06/07, 07/08, 08/09, 13/14 (1/2)
- PFA fans POTY 01/02, 08/09
- England FA POTY 2007, 2012
- LFC POTY 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009
- FIFA FIFPRO world XI 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013
- UEFA team of the year 2005, 2006, 2007
- Euro 2012 team of the tournament
- English football hall of fame 2017
- MOTD PL all time XI (2/2)
Steven Gerrard was named alongside Andres Iniesta and Xavi to complete the midfield in UEFA's team of the century. Fucking mental.
25 year old Steven Gerrard captained his boyhood club to Champions League glory. It went down as one of THE greatest comeback in the history of football. Who led from the front and started it all off? Steven George Gerrard. Goosebumps every single time.
Now that we've got personal accolades and career stats out of the way, let's look at what players past and present said about Steven Gerrard. Some of these are pretty incredible.
Lionel Messi: "Personally, I think Steven Gerrard is the greatest English player of all time."
Frank Lampard: "He's the hardest player to play against because he's got everything, he's a complete midfielder."
Paul Scholes saying he'd have applauded Stevie off the pitch even as a life long Manchester United fan. Touch of class.
Gary Neville admitting that he went on a tapping up mission isn't even the best part, he later goes on to say he wished Stevie played for Manchester United.
Carlo Ancelotti wanted to sign Steven Gerrard at Milan multiple times to play him alongside Andrea Pirlo but his bond with Liverpool was unbreakable.
One of the last members of a dying breed.
Jose Mourinho saying Steven Gerrard was his beloved enemy gets me to this day. Unbelievably classy and very telling.
Kaka: "Steven Gerrard is the complete modern day player and he'd fit in with any club in the world."
Arsene Wenger summed it up perfectly. "When Liverpool were in trouble, everyone looked to Gerrard and 9 times out of 10 he did it. He has every single quality needed for midfield"
"He's a player I've thought about a lot and admire, he reminds me a bit of myself. He might not get the attention of Messi and Ronaldo but he might just be the best player in the world"
From the iconic Zinadine Zidane. Massive.
Sir Alex Ferguson in the year 2000: "I'd hate to think Liverpool have someone as good as Roy Keane"
Steven Gerrard was only 20 years old back then. Generational.
Francesco Totti tops this off by saying Steven Gerrard would captain his World XI team. This is coming from a man who's a legend of the game in his own right and a one club man like Stevie.
Other notable quotes from the likes of Paulo Maldini, Patrick Vierra, Gennaro Gattuso and Wayne Rooney. Patrick Vierra basically admits Gerrard's superiority, class that 😂
Jamie Carragher, Fernando Torres, Pele and Xabi Alonso.
Michael Owen, Daniele de Rossi, Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho.
The accuracy of Titi's quote....
Claudio Marchisio, Bryan Robson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Andrea Pirlo.
Bryan Robson, a Manchester United legend has basically said he'd pick Gerrard over Scholes 👀
Steven Gerrard was the past, present and future of Liverpool Football Club at one point. Doesn't matter who your favorite player is, but your favorite player's favourite player is Steven Gerrard. We'll never see someone like him ever again.
End of thread. RTs appreciated.
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