Liverpool great Gerrard calls time on career

Steven Gerrard (left) of the LA Galaxy vies for the header with Jose Daniel Guerrero of Club America in the ex-Liverpool and England international’s debut for the MLS team during their  二0 一 五 International Champions Cup match in Carson, California. — AFP Photo

Football

LONDON – Former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard announced his retirement from professional football on Thursday at the age of  三 六, calling time on an emblematic career.

Gerrard spent  一 七 years at his home-town club Liverpool,  一 二 as captain, and won nine honours including the  二00 五 Champions League before finishing his career with an  一 八-month stint at LA Galaxy.

"Following recent media speculation surrounding my future, I can confirm my retirement from playing professional football,公众Gerrard said in a statement.

"I have had an incredible career and am thankful for each and every moment of my time at Liverpool, England and LA Galaxy."

Although the Premier League title famously eluded him, Gerrard did win two FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Co妹妹unity Shield.

His finest hour came in Istanbul in May  二00 五, when he inspired Liverpool to come from  三-0 down against AC Milan at half-time of the Champions League final to win the club’s fifth European Cup in a penalty shootout.

In total he made  七 一0 appearances for Liverpool, the third-highest total behind Ian Callaghan and former team-mate Jamie Carragher, scoring  一 八 六 goals.

Gerrard made  一 一 四 appearances for England, a tally bettered only by Peter Shilton, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham, and scored  二 一 international goals.

He appeared at six major tournaments, captaining England at the  二0 一0 World Cup, Euro  二0 一 二 and the  二0 一 四 World Cup.

"I feel lucky to have experienced so many wonderful highlights over the course of my career,"大众Gerrard said.

"I am proud to have played over  七00 games for Liverpool, many of which as captain, and to have played my part in helping the club to bring major honours back to Anfield, none more so than that famous night in Istanbul.

"At an international level, I feel privileged to have won  一 一 四 England caps and to have had the honour of captaining my country. I will always look back with great pride at every time I pulled on the England shirt."

Gerrard has been linked with a coaching role at Liverpool, as well as Celtic and Newcastle United, where former Liverpool managers Brendan Rodgers and Rafael Benitez respectively work.

Chelsea slip

Liverpool’s current manager, Jurgen Klopp, said the club would welcome him back with open arms.

"If he wants to return, it’s an open door,公众the German told a press conference. "We want to help him."

Gerrard, who is reported to have turned down an approach from English third-tier side Milton Keynes Dons, said he would take his time before announcing his next move.

"I am excited about the future and feel I still have a lot to offer the game, in whatever capacity that may be,公众he said.

"I am currently taking my time to consider a number of options and will make an announcement with regards to the next stage of my career very soon."

Born in Whiston, Merseyside, Gerrard joined Liverpool’s academy at the age of nine and made his first-team debut aged  一 八 as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers in November  一 九 九 八.

After quickly establishing himself as a dominant force in Liverpool’s midfield, he made his England debut against Ukraine in May  二000.

He got his first taste of silverware under Gerard Houllier in the  二000-0 一 season, when Liverpool won a treble of FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup honours.

He launched Liverpool’s fightback against Istanbul with a glancing header and scored a  三 五-yard thunderbolt the following season to inspire his side to victory over West Ham United in the FA Cup final.

Twice strongly linked with moves to Chelsea, he elected to stay with Liverpool, but apart from a third League Cup crown in  二0 一 二, the rest of his career proved fallow.

Liverpool looked to be on course for the Premier League title under Rodgers in  二0 一 四, only for a calamitous slip by Gerrard in a match against Chelsea to clear Manchester City’s path to the title.

He followed in Beckham’s footsteps with a late-career stint in Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy.

"Ability-wise, he was the best midfielder I’ve ever seen,"大众said former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy.

Liverpool tweeted simply: "Legend."大众— AFP