Player Fact File Steven Gerrard Birthdate: 30 May 1980 Birthplace: Whiston, Liverpool, England Other clubs: None Bought from: Local Signed for LFC: Joined 1988 International debut: 31.05.2000 vs. Ukraine International caps: 108/21 (19.11.2013) Liverpool debut: 29.11.1998 Last appearance: 07.12.2013 Debut goal: 05.12.1999 Last goal: 01.12.2013 Contract expiry: 2014 (signed 12.01.2012) Win ratio: 52.55% W: 340 D: 153 L: 154 Games/goals ratio: 3.99 LFC league games/goals: 456 / 101 Total LFC games/goals: 647 / 162 Player profile: Steven Gerrard is a great leader, strong in tackle, can hit the ball at ferocious speed, has good vision, scores great goals, makes brilliant passes and has it all, simply. There is no doubt that Stevie G ranks among the elite of Liverpool FC, right at the top with the likes of #Billy_Liddell and #Kenny_Dalglish. Gerrard started out with his local team, Whiston Juniors, until he was noticed by Liverpools scouts at eight years of age. He wasnt selected to attend Lilleshall, the National football and sports centre, mainly due to his lack of height. When he was 15, he was the same height as Michael Owen, but his sudden growth caused problems in his back restricted him to only playing 20 games from 14 years of age to 16. Gerrard got his breakthrough into the Liverpool team in 1998 when Jamie Redknapp got injured. New manager Gérard Houllier had inherited the key player to his Anfield revolution. Gerrard played 13 games, but his physical condition was still restricting his progress. The first instance that convinced Liverpool fans worldwide that the boy was something special was a heroic display in his first Merseyside derby in only his ninth appearance for the club. He featured as a right-back and made two goal-line clearances as Liverpool successfully protected their lead. Finally the England set-up took notice. He was nominated captain of the u-18 side and made his debut for the u-21s in September 1999. Houllier trusted the 19-year-old to begin the 1999/00 season in the starting line-up alongside Redknapp and promised him at least 20 games. Didi Hamann took his place eight games into the campaign in the Merseyside derby and disappointed Gerrard came on as a substitute. He lost his composure at the end of the match and was sent off for an ugly foul and was banned for three games. Gerrard returned stronger than before, determined to prove himself and his first goal for the club, against Sheffield Wednesday on 5 December 1999 proved to be spectacular. “A wonderful talent, a young man with the steel of a Stiles and the style of a Souness” – as Ric George described him in the Liverpool Echo – “side-stepped, danced and dribbled past three defenders before finishing decisively. He also proved his versatility as in one year he had played as a left-back, right-back, defensive and offensive midfielder and right- winger. On 31 May 2000 Gerrard made his international debut, aged 20 years and one day, in a 2-0 win against Ukraine at Wembley. A relative newcomer to the England squad Gerrard only made one substitute appearance in Euro 2000 when he came on for Michael Owen in a win over Germany. Kevin Keegans England team only recorded this one win and failed to qualify from their group. The boy had sure come far in a short period of time and his career rose rapidly in the 2000/01 season. He made 50 appearances for Liverpool, won the League Cup and FA Cup and scored a goal, which he ranks as one of his most memorable, in the brilliant 5-4 win over Alaves in the UEFA Cup final. Gerrard was named the Professional Footballers Associations Young Player of the Year. Liverpool, under the guidance of Houllier, continued its progress in the League and finished second in the 2001/02 season, seven points behind Arsenal. More to this GREAT player as help liverpool win their UEFA champions league.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:00:16 +0000