Steven Gerrard - 'I'll be a Liverpool FC fan til the day I die. I've lived my dreams'
Steven Gerrard insists his strong bond with Liverpool FC will never be broken as he insisted: āThis club has helped me achieve my dreams.ā
The Reds captain, who will bring the curtain down on 26 years of loyal service when his contract expires this summer, says he feels blessed to have enjoyed such a glittering career.
In an extensive interview with the ECHO, Gerrard dismissed suggestions that he felt let down over the Redsā attempts to retain his services beyond the current campaign.
The 34-year-old midfielder, who has announced he will move to America to play Major League Soccer, says with his game-time at Anfield being reduced it was simply the right time to pursue a new challenge.
Gerrard revealed he snubbed approaches from a host of top European clubs, including Premier League sides, before opting for the States.
āItās been an emotional few days for my family and myself since I made the announcement and I think itās been the same for a lot of the supporters,ā Gerrard told the ECHO.
āItās been difficult but I needed to snap out of it quickly because there are important games to be played. There is still a lot to be achieved this season.ā
The DecisionGerrard went public with the news of his impending exit last Friday after making the toughest decision of his life.
āIt was around a week before that I made my mind up,ā he said.
āIād done a lot of thinking and a lot of analysing. I wanted Brendan to be the first to know. I thought about the team and when would be the best time to announce it.
āAfter I told him we decided to sit tight until after the Leicester game on New Yearās Day. I didnāt want to wait too long.
āI knew that once January arrived and I was free to talk to foreign clubs the speculation would increase. The manager would have been facing questions about my future every few days and I didnāt think that was fair.ā
Gerrard revealed it was a conversation with Rodgers a month earlier which ultimately proved crucial in his decision to depart.
It came around the same time in late November when the club offered him a 12-month contract extension.
Rodgers informed the talismanic midfielder that he would no longer be an automatic selection.
The prospect of becoming a bit-part player simply didnāt appeal to such a dominant figure who has been Liverpoolās driving force for the best part of two decades.
āIāve got to be honest, that chat with Brendan came earlier than I was expecting,ā he said.
āIt was about a month before that he first mentioned to me about managing my game time. We had another chat on the subject recently ā 10 days to two weeks ago.
āIt was tough but I understood. Itās been very amicable. Everyone knows how much I rate Brendan. Our relationship is very good.
āThere hasnāt been a cross word between us. Brendan has been fantastic for me. My only regret is that I didnāt get to work with him at a younger age.
āThere is no finger pointing from me towards the manager or anyone else at the club."
I've never wanted to be a squad playerāFrom a professional point of view, everyone knows what Iām like and what I want.
āSince I was 16, 17 years of age, the moment I come into work on a Monday morning my preparations begin to play 90 minutes the following weekend.
āThatās the buzz. Iāve always worked hard all week to prepare and make sure my performance is right come the weekend.
āWhen it gets to the stage where you donāt know if youāre going to be starting or not it becomes different.
āIāve never wanted to be a squad player. If I was missing games now, Iād be sitting out even more next season. I knew it would get worse and worse as time went on.ā
Gerrard admits if Liverpool had offered him a new contract last summer he would have put pen to paper as at that stage he didnāt know his role would soon be reduced.
He had just ended his 114-cap England career to extend his club career. Instead it was November before there was an extension on the table.
āYes, if a contract had been put in front of me in pre-season I would have signed it,ā he said.
āIād just retired from England to concentrate all my efforts on Liverpool. I didnāt want my club games to be tailored.
āMy injury record had been fantastic for the past two and a half years and I had a great season from a personal point of view last season.
āItās all ifs, buts and hindsight now. That period between the summer and the end of November gave me thinking time.
āThereās no blame and Iām not angry about it. There are other people in the squad and the club had other things to worry about.
āLiverpool Football Club have been unbelievable for me since I was eight years old. This club has helped me fulfil my dreams over and over again.
āThe memories and experiences Iāve had over the past 26 years I wouldnāt swap for anything in the world.
āIām a very lucky boy and I am also proud of what Iāve given back ā the sacrifices, the dedication and the loyalty.
āI enjoy a very strong relationship with Liverpool Football Club and I donāt see that coming to an end. I hope to serve the club again one day.ā
Gerrard, whose classy double in Mondayās FA Cup win over AFC Wimbledon took his tally for the campaign to nine goals, insists Liverpoolās struggles during the first half of this season played no part in his decision.
āItās got nothing to do with how results have been,ā he said.
āThatās not the type I am. If things arenāt going so well, Iād rather stay and help to put things right. I think Iāve shown that over the years.
āIt simply came down to the fact that the idea of becoming a squad player didnāt excite me or motivate me.
āPeople can have their own opinion on that. But it would have been too difficult for me having been used to starting every game.
āI didnāt want to become a bit-part player. Coming off the bench here and there.
āThe buzz for me is playing, contributing and helping the team. When you donāt know if youāre going to be sat in the stands or on the bench it becomes a bit different.ā
Itās not easy being me at timesThere were also off-field considerations. After spending his entire life in the goldfish bowl of his home city, Huyton-born Gerrard decided his whole family would benefit from some time away.
āItās not just on the pitch in football but what you do off it as well,ā he said.
āI think it will be good for me to come out of the city for a little while.
āLiverpool is my home and I love the city. But itās not easy being me at times.
āDonāt get me wrong, I wouldnāt swap it for anything in the world because Iāve fulfilled my dreams. Iām not complaining about it but itās one of the things Iāve gone over.
āBeing a Liverpool player and living in the city, there are some cons that come with it.
āIt can be difficult to come out of the house ā to go to the coffee shop, go out for a meal, take the kids to the park or do the school run. The little things. That can be tough at times.
āThen there are the Steven Gerrard rumours ā the bits and bobs you have to deal with.
āIt will be nice to try something different - a new country, a new culture. To take the kids away so they can experience something new.
āIt will be nice to be able to walk out the door without being recognised.ā
Playing wise, there will be a weight lifted from his broad shoulders.
He has carried the hopes and dreams of Kopites for so long ā Liverpool have always looked to Gerrard to provide the inspiration.
āIāve never seen that as a burden,ā he added.
āThereās been huge pressure and responsibility on me but Iāve always loved and embraced that.
āItās been a massive honour to be captain of this club for so long and it will be right to the end.
āIāll be a Liverpool fan to the day I die. Iāve lived my dreams."
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/steven-gerrard---ill-liverpool-8393442Wasn't sure to put this here or the player thread, but sheds more light on Stevie's decision.