I Love Steven Gerrard

Born on 30 May 1980 in Whiston, Steven Gerrard is an Englisg footballer who also possesses the captaincy of the Premier League Club Liverpool. Apart from playing the role of a center midfielder in most of the games that he played, he was also used as a second striker and right winger.

Best known for his tremendous long-range striking abilities, Gerrard is rightly considered as one of the greatest English footballers and has thus has donned the role of a captain in 89 English national team football matches. He scored in numerous cup finals, including the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final and the 2006 FA Cup Final. Gerrard made his in 1998 and had spent his entire football career in Anfield, followed by strengthening his position in the first team of 2000-01 sessions. In 2003, he became the captain of Liverpool, succeeding Sami Hyypiä.

He contributed towards his career with two FA Cup Wins, two league Cup Wins, a UEFA Cup Win and a UEFA Champions League win in 2005; the year which saw him securing the third position in the voting for Ballon d’Or, an honor given to the top players of Europe. In 2000, he made his international debut by representing England at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, followed up by 2006 World Cup, where he was the top goal-scorer of the team. Gerrard’s consistent contribution towards his national team and his growing popularity made Zidane say in 2009 that he considers Gerrard as one of the best footballers in the world. He started to play football from a tender age for his hometown team Whiston Juniors, where he was noticed by the Liverpool scouts. After having several trials at various clubs at fourteen and many other tests and matches to prove his worth, he finally signed his first professional contract with Liverpool on 5 November 1997.

The year 1998 saw him making his Liverpool first team debut against Blackburn Rovers. However, due to his nervousness and lack of concentration, he could not prove his worth more than just by playing in the midfield and in the right wing. In that way, he found himself as a defensive player who is able to make key tackles rather than taking risks and pushing the team forward. Along with his playing career, he confronted some health complications as well, that included a nagging backache due to accelerated growth and excessive playing during teen-age, which was followed by four separate operations beset by groin injuries.

He made fifty starts in all competitions added by scoring ten goals in 2000-01, and led to the victory of Liverpool in the League Cup, FA Cup and the 2001 UEFA Cup. It was evident to some football experts that Gerrard had shown leadership qualities earlier as well, but needed to mature more as a player.

His interesting yet roller-coaster-like football life and career had brought out the best out of him, besides bringing out the most vulnerable part of the player as well, and the phase has made him learn and gain strength with every new and sudden challenges presented in the football field.

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