“You didn’t need to be an expert in football to see he was special. He was everywhere. He just loved it. He lived and breathed football.”
—Diane Courtney Ward, young Gerrard’s former teacher at St. Michael’s Primary.
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If you, girls, are looking for a faithful husband, just look no further than Steven Gerrard. He’s been with Alex Curran for like 7 years and having acted as an expected admirable husband and father up until now. Pictured in many frames, the Gerrards look just like a happy family, inside-out. I, myself, adore him for his family-orientedness.
But, there’s something special about him that lifts up the concept of faithfulness into something even bigger, and takes up more people’s accounts. His loyalty to his club and fans has been an amazing one (in case, there’s someone ignorant outthere not knowing about him, he’s a famous and fabulous english football player playing for Liverpool FC). This writing may take some subjective point-of-view in it, but believe me, this man is one you shouldn’t pout on, after all.
Steven Gerrard: The Egoistic Young from Huyton
As we already knew, he’s been well-known of his loyalty to stay at the club that has childbeared him, Liverpool FC. He’s been evolving into one of living icons of the liverbird. But, being what he’s now is not as easy, as simple as some Qatari guy buying a club then flooding it with his petrolmoney to make an instant cup grab (whoopsey). To look into the past is a benign way to know what makes the present.
Born in Whiston, Liverpool, young Gerrard was one kind of scouser football-freak kid that aspires to play in Liverpool FC (further written only Liverpool). Ironside Rock in Huyton City, where Gerrard used to play football in his boyhood time, was the witness of a birth of a future football star.
“We used it for five-a-side, 10-a-side, 20-a-side, rounders, shootie, catch. If anyone was there when I came out my house, they had to go,” says Gerrard, “Back then, it was MY pitch. No cars allowed.”
What an egoistic little kid I must say.
[caption id="attachment_364030" align="aligncenter" width="306" caption="Young Gerrard"]
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[/caption]He was crazy about football, and Liverpool. He always dreamt about someday playing for Liverpool and even captained The Reds. Playing first for local team, Whiston Juniors, it was his coach, Ben McIntrye, that recommended Gerrard to Dave Shannon, youth coach at Liverpool, “You’ve got to come and take a look at this kid.” Then, he was brought to Liverpool’s Centre of Excellence and met Michael Owen as his company, and future team mate.
Late growth on his body caused him to only have 20 games during his 14 to 16. He was literally little compared to his fellow players, but he never feared the other older or bigger players. His love of football and Liverpool was what drove him to be fearless and spiritful to drill and drill everyday. And, until the age of 17, he was rewarded with his first professional contract with Liverpool.
That egoistic little Huyton kid had finally made the club.
Steven Gerrard: The Liverpool Journey
His debut play for Liverpool first team was on 29 November 1998 as a second-half substitute for Vegard Heggem against Blackburn. Thanks to Jamie Redknapp’s injury, as a freshman, Gerrard played 13 games on that season. His first starter was in UEFA Cup against Celta Vigo.
Young Gerrard never stopped to amaze. Next season, on 99/00, manager Gerard Houllier set him and Redknapp duetting in the midfield. He scored his first professional goal on Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
He made his international debut in May 2000 against Ukraine in a memorable 2-0 win. He was 20 and a day years old. And, 00/01 season marked his career step-up. He then played 50 games for Liverpool, won the League Cup and FA Cup and later became the PFA’s Young Player of the Year.
And, one moment on 15 October 2003 finally materialized Gerrard’s boyhood dream into reality; Houllier set Gerrard to be the new armband donner of the Reds.
“I was captain of my school side and I used to go along to Anfield to watch the team. I used to watch Barnes with the captain's armband and dream that one day it would be me captaining the team I love," said Gerrard.
Gerrard has been maturating into Liverpool ‘only’ captain and leading the squad to succeeding many trophies, say FA Cup (05/06), League Cup/Carling (11/12), Community Shield (06), UEFA Super Cup (05), and of course the showy comeback win on 04/05 Champions League final in Istanbul against AC Milan. One doesn’t simply forget how desperate we were seeing the 3-goal-down by the first half. Chance seemed to fade away. It was 3 goals against nothing. Some say that it was a safe point of winning the game.
But, who the hell would expect the showdown on the second half? In less than 10 minutes, three goals were netted to Duda’s den. Again, Gerrard was the one who lit the fire. He headed the ball inside on the 54’, caught up by class strike from Smicer on 56’, and Alonso wrapped the second half with a tie with his whitespot-kick on 60’. Later, Liverpool grabbed the cup for the fifth time, bestowing them the badge of honor, and Gerrard was chosen as the Cup’s best player.
[caption id="attachment_364027" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Winning the Impossible"]
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[/caption]Steven Gerrard: It’s Time
The start of 2015 has saddenned me. Some horrible things happenned. The tragedy befalling on AirAsia flight QZ8501 was the heartwrecking one (May God forgive and bless them). I pray for the victims and the losing ones.
But, some tearjerking news also happenned to turn my waterworks on. It’s finally the announcement of Gerrard leaving the Liverpool.
“This has been the toughest decision of my life and one which both me and my family have agonized over for a good deal of time."
Gossips mostly say that he’ll leave for MLS, and LA Galaxy’d be his likely destination. Well, it IS hard to imagine Liverpool without Gerrard and even more weird seeing Gerrard on another costume (some picture on internet editted him on LA Galaxy). I’m truly sad to hear this, and surely for other Liverpudlians around the world.
The least thing we expect to happen; The captain is about to leave.
“I'm going to carry on playing and although I can't confirm at this stage where that will be, I can say it will be somewhere that means I won't be playing for a competing club and will not therefore be lining up against Liverpool—that is something I could never contemplate."
It’s already 17 years he’s been serving the Liverbird. Playing since Gerrard Houllier until Brendan Rodgers. Appearing in 695 games. Scoring 180 goals.
And, most of all, requiting the trust and love that all the Liverpool fans and supporters have put on him.
It’s not easy to remain that long at a club, or I say, to be a one-club-player. Some players have played and left. But, Gerrard chose to stay and turned down every offer he got, not to mention the tempting high-valued deal bid from Chelsea. His boyhood love to Liverpool had keep him staying.
I’m also woeful to know that he’ll leave the club before he even get the chance on grasping the premiere cup. If I could name one person that has the biggest will and ambition to win the PL, that must be Gerrard (he was several times near to getting it, say 08/09 and 13/14). We were very close in finishing the first last season (13/14).
I still remember how he cried from winning the game against Manchester City, how he gathered all his teammates saying that it was not over and they had to go again, and also how they ended up in second, eventually.
And, it’s time. The Huyton boy is about to depart.
The boy who liked to scribble about the team selection rather than schoolwork at the back of the class; The boy who’d be quiet once you threatened him to not play football; The boy who loves football more than anything.
Some people say that home is where the heart is. Perhaps Gerrard has been too long staying in home and he, somehow, needs to take a walk and see how the outside would look like.
But, after all, he’ll be back home.
Home is where his heart is. Liverpool FC.
Last words, I really hope you could make the very best of your last season in England and also the very best luck in your new club.