Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard
Gerrard, playing for Liverpool
Personal information
Full name Steven George Gerrard
Date of birth 30 May 1980 (1980-05-30) (age 29)
Place of birth    Whiston, Merseyside, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Liverpool
Number 8
Youth clubs
1987–1997 Liverpool
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1997– Liverpool 314 (58)   
National team2
1999
2000–		 England U21
England		 004 0(1)
070 (14)[1]

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 14:21, 15 November 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 27 October 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Steven George Gerrard, MBE (IPA: [ˈdʒɛrɑ:d]; born 30 May 1980) is an English footballer who plays for English Premier League club Liverpool F.C. and the England national team. He is usually employed in the box-to-box midfield role, although he has often been deployed as a right-sided midfielder and occasionally as a second striker.

Gerrard, who has spent his entire career at Anfield, made his debut in 1998 and cemented his place in the first team in the 2000-01 season, succeeding Sami Hyypiä as Liverpool team captain in 2003. His honours include a pair of FA Cups and two Football League Cup wins, as well as the UEFA Cup in 2001 and the UEFA Champions League in 2005, following Liverpool's comeback in the final.

Gerrard made his international debut in 2000, and represented England in the UEFA European Championships in 2000 and 2004 as well as the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where he was the team's top goalscorer.

Contents

Early career

Born in in Whiston, Merseyside, Gerrard started out playing for hometown team Whiston Juniors, where he was noticed by Liverpool scouts. He joined the Reds' youth academy at the age of nine.[2] Gerrard then had trials with various clubs at fourteen, including Manchester United, which he claimed in his 2006 autobiography that this was "to pressure Liverpool into giving me a YTS contract."[3] He signed his first professional contract with Liverpool on 5 November 1997.[3]

Liverpool F.C.

Gerrard made his Liverpool first-team debut on 29 November 1998 in a match against Blackburn Rovers as a second-half substitute for Vegard Heggem, and his first start came in a UEFA Cup match against Celta Vigo.[4] He made thirteen overall appearances as an injury substitute for incumbent Jamie Redknapp.[2]

Gerrard partnered Redknapp in central midfield for the 1999-00 season. After starting the derby match against Everton F.C. on the bench, he replaced Robbie Fowler in the second half but received his first career red card for a late foul on Everton's Kevin Campbell.[5] Later that season, Gerrard scored his first senior goal in a 4–1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.[2] However, he began to suffer from nagging back problems, which sports consultant Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfarth later diagnosed as a result of accelerated growth, coupled with excessive playing, during his teenage years.[3] He was then beset by groin injuries that required four separate operations.[3]

In 2000-01, he made fifty starts in all competitions and scored ten goals as Liverpool won the League Cup, FA Cup, and the 2001 UEFA Cup. Gerrard replaced Sami Hyypiä as Liverpool captain in October 2003, as manager Gérard Houllier said that he recognised Gerrard had demonstrated leadership qualities early on, but needed to mature.[6] Gerrard also penned a new four-year contract worth £60,000 a week.

Houllier quit after a trophyless 2003-04 campaign, and Gerrard was linked with a move to Chelsea F.C. during the offseason. He admitted he was not "happy with the progress [Liverpool] has made," and that "for the first time in my career I've thought about the possibility of moving on."[7] In the end, Gerrard turned down a £20 million offer from Chelsea to stay with Liverpool and new coach Rafael Benítez.[8]

Gerrard taking a free kick for Liverpool

Liverpool were wracked with injury early in the 2004-05 season, and a foot injury suffered in a September league match against Manchester United shelved Gerrard until late November. He returned to score in the last five minutes of a Champions League group stage match against Olympiacos F.C. to secure Liverpool's advancement to the knockout round.[9] He claimed that this was his most important, if not his best, goal for Liverpool to date.[10] However, Gerrard netted an own goal during the 2005 League Cup final on 27 February, which proved decisive in Liverpool's 3–2 loss to Chelsea.

During a six-minute stretch in the second half of the 2005 Champions League final against A.C. Milan, Liverpool rebounded from a three-goal deficit to tie the match at 3–3 after extra time, with Gerrard scoring one of the goals. He did not participate in the penalty shootout, which Liverpool won 3–2 as they claimed their first CL trophy in twenty years, though he was named the Man of the Match, and later received the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award.

In regards to his contract issues with Liverpool, Gerrard told the press after the final, "How can I leave after a night like this?"[11] But negotiations soon stalled and on 5 July 2005, after Liverpool turned down another lucrative offer from Chelsea, Gerrard rejected a club-record £100,000-a-week offer. Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry conceded the club had lost Gerrard, saying, "Now we have to move on. We have done our best, but he has made it clear he wants to go and I think it looks pretty final."[12] The next day, Gerrard signed a new four-year deal as Parry blamed the earlier breakdown of talks on miscommunication between the two sides.[13][14]

Gerrard scored twenty-three goals in 53 appearances in 2005-06, and in April became the first Liverpool player since John Barnes in 1988 to be voted the PFA Player of the Year.[15] He scored twice in the 2006 FA Cup final against West Ham United, including an equalizer that sent the match into extra time, and Liverpool won their second consecutive major trophy on penalties. The goals made him the only player to have scored in all four major cup finals that it is possible for an England-based player to take part in. Gerrard assisted a goal and netted a penalty as Liverpool eliminated league rival Chelsea in the 2006-07 CL semifinals to return to their second final in three seasons, which they lost 2–1 to Milan.

Gerrard during the 2006-07 season

Gerrard suffered a hairline toe fracture in an August 2007 Champions League qualifier against Toulouse F.C., but returned four days later to play the entirety of a 1–1 league draw against Chelsea. On 28 October 2007, Gerrard played his 400th game for Liverpool in a league match against Arsenal, in which he scored. He scored in all but one of Liverpool's domestic and European matches during the month of November, and after scoring the only goal in a Champions League away tie against Olympique de Marseille on 11 December, he became the first Liverpool player since John Aldridge in 1989 to score in seven consecutive games in all competitions.

He made his 300th Premier League appearance on 13 April 2008 in a match against Blackburn Rovers, scoring the opening goal, and finished the season with twenty-two league goals, surpassing his total from the 2006-07 season. He was one of the nominees for the PFA Player of the Year alongside teammate Fernando Torres. Gerrard was also selected for the PFA Team of the Year for the fifth straight year and sixth time overall.[16]

Gerrard helped Liverpool reach the group stages of the 2008-09 CL after a 1–0 aggregate win over Standard Liege, before again undergoing groin surgery. He scored what appeared to be his hundredth career Liverpool goal against Stoke City FC on 20 September, but it was disallowed after Dirk Kuyt was ruled offside.[17] He achieved the milestone eleven days later in a 3-1 CL group stage win over PSV Eindhoven.[18]

International career

Gerrard made his international debut against Ukraine on 31 May 2000.[19] That summer, he was called up for Euro 2000, making only one appearance as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Germany before England were eliminated in the group stage.[20][21] Gerrard scored his first international goal in a 5–1 victory over Germany in a 2002 World Cup qualifier in September 2001, and while England qualified, Gerrard was forced to pull out of the squad due to his ongoing groin problems.[22]

He was a regular starter in Euro 2004, scoring once before England were eliminated by Portugal in the quarterfinals on penalties.[23] He participated in his first World Cup in 2006 and scored a team-leading two goals, both in the group stage, though his spot kick was one of three saved by goalkeeper Ricardo as England again bowed out to Portugal in the quarterfinals on penalties.[24]

Gerrard was made vice-captain of the England team by coach Steve McClaren,[25] and while he filled in for John Terry as captain, England suffered back-to-back losses to Russia and Croatia that ended their Euro 2008 qualifying hopes.[26] Gerrard was subsequently replaced as England vice-captain by Rio Ferdinand.[27] After new coach Fabio Capello took over the team, Gerrard was selected as one of his initial captains, before he settled on Terry.

On 20 August 2008, Gerrard became Liverpool's most capped England player of all time after winning his 68th cap for England against the Czech Republic.

Personal life

Gerrard and his wife, fashion journalist Alex Curran, married at the Cliveden mansion in Buckinghamshire on 16 June 2007, the same day as the weddings of England team-mates Gary Neville and Michael Carrick.[28] He has an older brother, Paul (not to be confused with former Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard), and his cousin Anthony plays for Walsall F.C. In September 2006, Gerrard published his autobiography, Gerrard: My Autobiography, which went on to win the Sports Book of the Year honour at the British Book Awards.[29]

On 1 October 2007, Gerrard was involved in a low-speed accident in Southport when the car he was driving hit a ten-year-old bicyclist, who had suddenly shot into the street and cut off his path. He later visited the boy in the hospital and presented him with a pair of boots signed by the boy's favourite player, Wayne Rooney, after which he stayed to sign autographs for other young patients.[30]

Councillors of Knowsley voted to make Gerrard a Freeman of the Borough on 13 December,[31] and two weeks later, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in The Queen's New Year Honours List, for services to sport.[32] He received an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University on 26 July 2008 as recognition for his contribution to sport.[33]

Club statistics

Club Performance
Club Season Flag of England Premier League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Liverpool

(Premier League)

 1998–99 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 - - 13 0
1999–00 29 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 - - 31 1
2000–01 33 7 4 1 4 0 9 2 - - 50 10
2001–02 28 3 2 0 0 0 15 1 - - 45 4
2002–03 34 5 2 0 6 2 11 0 1 0 54 7
2003–04 34 4 3 0 2 0 8 2 - - 47 6
2004–05 30 7 0 0 3 2 10 4 - - 43 13
2005–06 32 10 6 4 1 1 12 7 2 1 53 23
2006–07 36 7 1 0 1 1 12 3 1 0 51 11
2007–08 34 11 3 3 2 1 13 6 - - 52 21
2008–09 11 3 0 0 0 0 5 5 - - 16 8
Club Total 312 57 23 8 19 7 96 30 4 1 457 103
Career totals 312 57 23 8 19 7 96 30 4 1 457 103
Last updated 5 October 2008[34]

International goals

Scores and results list England's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 2001-09-01 Olympiastadion, Germany Flag of Germany.svg Germany 2-1 5-1 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
2 2002-10-16 St Mary's Stadium, England Flag of Macedonia.svg FYR Macedonia 2-2 2-2 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying
3 2003-06-03 Walkers Stadium, England Flag of Serbia and Montenegro.svg Serbia and Montenegro 1-0 2-1 Friendly
4 2004-06-17 Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Portugal Flag of Switzerland.svg Switzerland 3-0 3-0 UEFA Euro 2004
5 2004-09-04 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Austria Flag of Austria.svg Austria 2-0 2-2 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
6 2005-03-30 St James' Park, England Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Azerbaijan 1-0 2-0 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
7 2006-05-30 Old Trafford, England Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary 1-0 3-1 Friendly
8 2006-06-15 Frankenstadion, Germany Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 2-0 2006 FIFA World Cup
9 2006-06-20 RheinEnergie Stadion, Germany Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 2-1 2-2 2006 FIFA World Cup
10 2006-09-02 Old Trafford, England Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra 2-0 5-0 UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying
11 2007-03-28 Olympic Stadium, Spain Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra 1-0 3-0 UEFA Euro 2008 Qualfiying
12 2007-03-28 Olympic Stadium, Spain Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra 2-0 3-0 UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying
13 2008-05-28 Wembley Stadium, England Flag of the United States.svg United States 2-0 2-0 Friendly
14 2008-10-15 Dinamo Stadium, Belarus Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus 1-0 3-1 2010 World Cup Qualifying

Honours

Liverpool

Individual

Orders

References

  1. ↑ http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/?pf=p&i=5462&ap=p&searchname=gerrard
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Liverpoolfc.tv: Profile". Liverpool F.C..
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Gerrard, Steven (2006). Gerrard: My Autobiography. Bantam Press. pp. pp. 10-14. ISBN 0-593-05475-X. 
  4. ↑ "Steven Gerrard Bio". Soccernet.
  5. ↑ "Blue delight as three sent off", BBC.co.uk (27 September 1999). 
  6. ↑ "Gerrard named Reds captain", BBC.co.uk (15 October 2003). 
  7. ↑ Fifield, Dominic (2004-06-19). "Benítez boost as Gerrard stays at Liverpool". 
  8. ↑ Lovejoy, Joe (2008-04-20). "Chelsea eye Steven Gerrard bid as title race heads for dramatic finish". 
  9. ↑ "Liverpool 3-1 Olympiakos", BBC.co.uk (8 December 2004). 
  10. ↑ Kay, Oliver (2004-12-09). "Gerrard opens Euro tunnel", The Times. Retrieved on 2008-07-30. 
  11. ↑ "Gerrard could stay after Euro win". BBC Sport (2006-05-26). Retrieved on 2008-07-30.
  12. ↑ "I want to leave Anfield - Gerrard", BBC Sport (2005-07-05). Retrieved on 2008-07-30. 
  13. ↑ "Gerrard in shock Liverpool U-turn", BBC Sport (2005-07-06). Retrieved on 2008-07-30. 
  14. ↑ "Gerrard & Carragher extend deals", BBC Sport (2005-07-08). Retrieved on 2008-08-21. 
  15. ↑ "Gerrard named player of the year". BBC Sport (2006-04-23). Retrieved on 2008-07-30.
  16. ↑ Barrett, Tony (2008-04-14). "Steven Gerrard's joy at 300 league appearances for Liverpool", Liverpool Echo. Retrieved on 2008-07-30. 
  17. ↑ http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/09/20/steven-gerrard-robbed-of-100th-liverpool-goal-64375-21864357/
  18. ↑ neale, Richard (1 October 2008). "Gerrard scores 100th goal for Liverpool". 
  19. ↑ "Victorious farewell for England", BBC Sport (2000-05-31). Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  20. ↑ "Keegan names Euro 2000 squad", BBC Sport (2000-06-01). Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  21. ↑ "England beat Germany - at last", BBC Sport (2000-06-17). Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  22. ↑ "Gerrard ruled out of World Cup", BBC Sport (2002-05-14). Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  23. ↑ "Portugal break England hearts", BBC Sport (2004-06-24). Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  24. ↑ "England beaten on penalties again", BBC Sport (2006-07-01). Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  25. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4780745.stm
  26. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7103110.stm
  27. ↑ http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12040_2966102,00.html
  28. ↑ Roberts, Brian (2007-03-10). "Exclusive: Carrick in wedding clash". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved on 2008-07-30.
  29. ↑ "British Book Awards - Winners 2007". Galaxy British Book Awards (2007).
  30. ↑ "Gerrard's gifts for hospital boy". BBC Sport (2007-10-02). Retrieved on 2008-07-30.
  31. ↑ "Gerrard honoured by home borough". BBC Sport (2006-12-14). Retrieved on 2008-07-30.
  32. ↑ Woodward, Will (2006-12-30). "Rod and Zara winners in politics-free New Year honours". The Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-07-30.
  33. ↑ "Footballer gets university honour". BBC Sport (2008-07-26). Retrieved on 2008-07-27.
  34. ↑ "8 Steven Gerrard". LFChistory.net (2008-08-17). Retrieved on 2008-08-17.

External links

Liverpool F.C. – current squad

1 Cavalieri • 2 Dossena • 4 Hyypiä • 5 Agger • 7 Keane • 8 Gerrard • 9 Torres • 11 Riera • 12 F. Aurélio • 14 Alonso • 15 Benayoun • 16 Pennant • 17 Arbeloa • 18 Kuyt • 19 Babel • 20 Mascherano • 21 Lucas • 22 Insúa • 23 Carragher • 24 N'Gog • 25 Reina • 26 Spearing • 27 Degen • 28 Plessis • 29 Németh • 30 Itandje • 31 El Zhar • 32 Darby • 34 Kelly • 36 Irwin • 37 Škrtel • 39 Eccleston • 41 Hansen • 42 Gulácsi • Manager: Benítez
Persondata
NAME Gerrard, Steven George
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION English footballer
DATE OF BIRTH 30 May 1980
PLACE OF BIRTH Whiston, Liverpool, England
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH