Thank you & farewell Steven Gerrard

Liverpool FC legend Steven Gerrard announces he is to leave Reds in the summer

Steven Gerrard will announce on Friday that he is leaving Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old midfielder, who has devoted his entire glittering career to his boyhood club, has taken the agonising decision to cut his ties with the Reds and move abroad.

His exact destination has yet to be confirmed but the ECHO understands that Gerrard is likely to head for America to play in Major League Soccer.

LA Galaxy are one of a number of teams keen on securing the services.

Gerrard has also attracted interest from clubs in the Middle East.

The longest serving captain in Liverpool's history and arguably their greatest ever player has been considering his options since he was offered a 12-month extension to his current deal in November.

Gerrard has now decided to go public about his plans because he doesn't want speculation about his future to become an unwanted distraction for Brendan Rodgers' side during the second half of the season.

It was never a question of money for Gerrard, who has rejected a number lucrative moves to the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich over the course of his career.

His decision hinged on playing time and the Huyton-born star, who has found himself rested at times this season, believes the time is right to pursue a new challenge before he hangs up his boots.

Gerrard, who scored twice when he returned to the Liverpool side in the 2-2 draw with Leicester City on New Year's Day, has been with the club since he was eight years old.

He has gone on to make 695 appearances and has scored 180 goals.

Gerrard famously inspired Liverpool's miraculous fightback against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul.

Twelve months later it was his stunning double in the FA Cup final which helped the Reds overcome West Ham.

The only major honour absent from his CV is the Premier League title which narrowly eluded him last season.

He remains the only player to score in the finals of the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-legend-steven-gerrard-8371506

We knew it was coming. It's definitely time for both club and player to move on.

But what an amazing footballer..

Many thanks for pulling us out of the sh*t on countless times. Good luck for the rest of the season and your new adventure in the States.

BBC reports that Gerrard will leave LFC at the end of the season.

Very sad news indeed. 

All the best, Cap.
You were an absolute powerhouse.

Thanks for the memories Stevie and what memories they have been.

Best move for all involved as far as I'm concerned but he will be ever remembered as a great at this club.

Has been at the very heart of all our high points, and stayed during our low points.

Absolute legend.

What a player he was, never seen a more complete footballer in my life.

Thanks for the trophies and the memories Captain, dread to think where we would have been without him these last 15 years...

Definitely a club legend - thanks for the memories Stevie.

The best I've had the pleasure to watch, so many memories!

Truly Gutted. Should be staying at the club. I don't buy into the 'it's best for both parties' thinking.

Never a truer red to have graced the jersey, absolute hero and legend. Hope he returns the wiser to continue on his tenure as a great manager/coach, sometime in the not so distant future.

Will shed a tear for the end of an era.

What a legend. Thanks for being one of the greatest and most loyal captains in world football. YNWA

The word legend is thrown about all over the place these days but it's not even close to being enough to describe this man. Don't think anyone will ever forget the way he single-handedly dragged us over the line so many times.

Now let's go out and get him one last trophy (or maybe three) to lift before he leaves.

My favorite footballer. Period. Gerrard is the only player I've seen in my time that could do everything on the pitch. Literally everything. Pass, shoot, finish, tackle, his vision, his tenacity, that burst of pace he had in his younger days. From time to time, I go back and watch YouTube compilations of his best moments. He was unreal in his prime.

Stevie is a huge reason I started supporting Liverpool, and I'm gutted he's leaving. He's given us so many great memories though, and for that we'll always be grateful. He saved our asses soooo many times throughout the years and stuck with the club through some very shitty times. "Legend" is disingenuous because it doesn't accurately sum him up.

Gerrard is not just a once in while player, or a once in generation player, or a once in a lifetime player. He's a one of a kind player.

Head knows it has to happen, heart doesn't want it to. Gutted.

All the best, lad. Thanks for the memories. It might not be popular opinion but I think this is going to hurt LFC next season more than people realise right now.

We all knew the time would arrive sooner of later and to tell you the truth I thought he would retire, will not seem right him playing for another team.

Our best player since the King.

Thanks for the memories Stevie.

The King is dead long live the King.

best LFC player for me

Good luck cap in what ever you do next!

Thanks Stevie. It will blew up in our faces this decision as the team has no leader whatsoever to get the players around him and so on. Those scapegoating him are deluded as Brendan fu**ed up big time by playing him in a position he hasnt played in 10 years and which requires alot of stamina and energy, you won't see Pirlo, Xavi, Scholes or Lampard deployed in such a demanding position. Sad that he goes in these conditions.

Thanks for adding to our illustrious history Stevie G.  Time for the next player to step up and create more history.

He's not just a great, he's the greatest of the greats.

Too soon IMO, played in the right role he still has a lot to offer on the pitch IMO.

Absolutely devastated, I always saw Stevie ending his career at Anfield thank you for the amazing memories and for being the player that sparked my love affair with football as a 9 year old YNWA

Inevitable.

... But F**k me what a F***ing player to have led you.

YNWA Skipper.