I gave Steven Gerrard a crack but he hit me in the face; That mentality made him special.

By premiernews On Mar 12, 2024

Steven Gerrard's legacy in football is backed by a brilliant career that earned him the respect of fans and fellow professionals.

Gerrard was given the Liverpool captaincy at just 23 years old, a surprise to some at the time, but for those close to the Huyton native, captaining the Reds was a certainty.

Gerrard was a leader for club and country during a brilliant 18-year career.Credit: Getty Images

The former Liverpool midfielder's genius was evident during his time in the club's academy and his early promise was rewarded with his first-team debut at the age of 18, under manager Gerard Houllier.

A call-up to England Under-18s followed and it was there that former West Ham star Matt Etherington felt the star's wrath.

Etherington was in Gerrard's team during a training session with the Young Lions, but that did not exempt him from receiving criticism for his brazen efforts.

“I remember playing with Gerrard in the England under-18 team in Manchester,” Etherington said. The men's bathroom at talkSPORT.

“We were playing games in tight spaces and I put it through (Gerrard's) legs and went to the other side. He just said 'nonsense' right to my face like 'you're not going to do that to me'.

“It was his mentality. That's why he was what he was: a special player.”

Gerrard is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in England history, having earned a whopping 114 caps for the Three Lions.

Only Peter Shilton, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham has amassed more caps for England than Gerrard, who was part of the 'Golden Era' led by Sven-Goran Eriksson.

But it was at club level where Gerrard earned his praise. His efforts to inspire dead and buried Liverpool to a stunning comeback in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan are among his greatest achievements.

Two FA Cup victories followed, including his magnificent goal in the 2006 final, which was later dubbed “Gerrard's Final”.

Matt Etherington described the moment when an irritated Gerrard thwarted his attempt to obtain nutmeg.

Gerrard inspired Liverpool to become European champions in IstanbulCredit: GETTY

Gerrard led the 2006 FA Cup final and capped it off with a memorable goal.Credit: Getty

Mourinho would have loved to have Gerrard at his disposalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Gerrard won the PFA Player of the Year award for the 2005-06 season and was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year eight times.

José Mourinho's attempts to take Gerrard Chelsea It did not materialize, but that did not stop the Portuguese from paying tribute to it years later.

Kieron Dyer played with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes, but says there is one area where David Beckham surpasses them all

“I tried to bring him to Chelsea, I tried to bring him to Inter, I tried to bring him to real Madrid, but he was always a dear enemy,” Mourinho said. “I was dreaming of having Claude Makelele, Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the midfield.”

legend of france Zinedine Zidane He was also a big admirer of the Liverpool legend. The former Real Madrid star was often considered the best midfielder in the world during the height of Gerrard's career, but the Frenchman saw things differently.

He said: “There was a time when Gerrard was the best midfielder in the world. “It’s rare to find complete midfielders who can do everything, but that’s what it was.”

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