Today ex-Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard has officially hung up his boots, calling time on a 19-year playing career having worn the number 8 at both Liverpool and LA Galaxy. The 36-year old Scouser spent 17 years at Boyhood Club Liverpool before spending his final two years in the MLS with LA Galaxy. After announcing his decision to leave the California club, rumours surfaced of a potential January return to #Liverpool even a reunion with his former manager Brendan Rodgers at Celtic.
But days after rejecting the chance to manage MK Dons, Gerrard has decided to end his playing career.
Liverpool Legend
Having made his Liverpool debut on 29th November 1998, coming on as a sub against Blackburn Rovers, Gerrard went on to rack up 710 appearances for his home town club. Replacing Sami Hyppia as captain in 2003, the England international went on to become one of the greatest midfielder's of the Premier League era winning 3 League Cups, 2 FA Cups, 1 UEFA Cup and catalysed Liverpool's Istanbul come back to win the Champions League in 2005, possibly the greatest final in the competition's history.
He was also a vital player in the 2001 treble cup winning team when Liverpool won the UEFA cup, League cup, and FA cup. Gerrard will go down as Liverpool's longest-ever serving captain and is considered possibly the greatest ever Liverpool player. However there were doubts especially when Chelsea came knocking with £20 million offer for the then 24-year old, but he remained to work under newly appointed Benitez and went on to win the Champions League.
Football's elite would come knocking throughout the midfielder's career but his loyalty to Liverpool was unwavering, loyalty that was somewhat rare in a football world dominated by financial power. For others, he will be remembered for the infamous slip which was used as a scapegoat for Liverpool's failed title challenge in the 2013/14 season, the closest he came to a Premier League title.
But for Liverpool fans, he will be remembered as one of the greatest products of their academy, and one of the best players to ever wear the jersey. Forever beloved.
MK Dons job too soon
Over the weekend, MK Dons handed Gerrard an ultimatum, he had until Monday to decide whether he wanted to become their new manager. The offer was turned down with the move coming too soon "I spoke to them, I had a chat with the chairman. It's a very exciting job for someone else. It's a bit too soon for me" Gerrard told BT Sport. Now eyes are on a return to Liverpool in some sort of coaching capacity, but Gerrard didn't give too much away about what the future holds for him following the announcement of his retirement "I am excited about the future and feel I still have a lot to offer the game, in whatever capacity that may be." The now retired midfielder will certainly not be short of options no matter how he decides to take the next step in his career. But it is official that we will never see Steven Gerrard on a football pitch again.