Steven Gerrard retires from football after amazing 20 year career
Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard has announced his retirement from football after an amazing 20 year career.
Steven Gerrard, a Liverpool and England legend has finally hung up his boots after an extraordinary 20 year career, in which he has always played for Liverpool, having over 450 appearances for the Merseyside club, scoring 111 goals.
Gerrard is one of the all-time greats to have ever braced English football and he informed the world today that he will be retiring immediately in a press conference for Liverpool's game against Arsenal, in which he spoke out to the media to tell them about his decision to retire from both international and club football.
Gerrard said the following;
"I've decided to call it quits on my career and retire from football for good. It was a very hard decision to make but I believe it is the right one, I've had such an amazing career both here at Liverpool and for England but I feel now is the right time to retire as I'm not getting any younger and I'm struggling to play each week, so that's I've decided to retire here today. I know it's such a sudden decision and you all weren't expecting this today, but I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me in my career, I wish you all luck for the future."
Gerrard has had a truly amazing career, let's look back at his main highlights of his career for England:
Steven Gerrard made his England debut against Ukraine on 31 May 2000, which eventually England won 2-0, although Gerrard didn't score on his debut, he put in a solid performance to help his national team win.
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Steven Gerrard putting in a tackle to help break down an Ukrainian attack on his debut to help England win 2-0.
Gerrard went to the Euro 2000's that same year making only one appearance as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Germany before England were eliminated in the group stage, however this game Gerrard much needed experience at international level.
And that experience proved well as Gerrard scored his first international goal in the famous 5–1 victory over Germany in a 2002 World Cup qualifier in September 2001, and while England qualified, Gerrard was forced to pull out of the squad due to his ongoing groin problems after pulling up in Liverpool's final match of the season against Ipswich.
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Steven Gerrard celebrating with Ashley Cole as he scored his first ever England goal in a 5-1 win against Germany.
Gerrard continued to impress and in the Euro 2004's group stage, He was a regular starter in Euro 2004, scoring once to make it 3–0 in England's win over Switzerland in the second Group game of the tournament but England would be eliminated by the tournament hosts Portugal in the quarter-finals losing 6–5 on penalties in a match when Gerrard was substituted off in the 81st minute for Owen Hargreaves.
He started in his first World Cup in 2006 and scored two goals, both in the group stage, against Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden, although his spot kick was one of three saved by goalkeeper Ricardo as England again bowed out to Portugal in the quarter-finals on penalties. He was England's top scorer in the tournament.
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Steven Gerrard as his penalty was saved by Ricardo in the 2006 World Cu quarter-finals against Portugal, which England eventually lost.
Gerrard helped England qualify for the 2010 World Cup, scoring two goals in England's 5–1 win over Croatia. In 2010 World Cup, Gerrard was the most experienced player in the squad with 80 caps. During preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, however, Rio Ferdinand was injured, meaning that Gerrard was appointed by Capello as captain for the tournament.
After the tournament Gerrard, part of a group of England players dubbed the "Golden Generation", confirmed that he would continue to be available for selection, despite suggestions from Capello that he would seek to re-build the team.
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Steven Gerrard as he scored for England against Croatia in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, with later England were knocked out the competition.
Gerrard was later named permanent captain by new coach Roy Hodgson, in time for the tournament finals. This was the first time that he was named directly the captain of England and not in place of an injured or unavailable captain.
He provided three assists and won two man of the match awards to help England finish top of their group in the qualifying round, and go through to the quarter-finals. Despite their exit on penalties to Italy, Gerrard was later the only England player to be named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.Gerrard won his 100th cap for England in a friendly match against Sweden.
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Steven Gerrard celebrating as he scored for England in Euro 2012 to help England progress into the quarter finals.
Gerrard rounded off his amazing England career by winning England's first World Cup since 1966 and will remain an England legend for many years to come. Gerrard has told the media that he wants to become either a coach or an assistant manager, and may turn to England to get either of those jobs.
