On this day in 2016: Steven Gerrard calls time on playing career
Steven Gerrard announced his retirement from playing professional football, on this day in 2016.
The former Liverpool captain had departed LA Galaxy weeks earlier and called time on his career at the age of 36.
In a statement, he said: “I can confirm my retirement from playing professional football. I have had an incredible career and am thankful for each and every moment of my time at Liverpool, England and LA Galaxy.”
Former England & @LFC captain Steven Gerrard has hung up his boots 🦁👏We look over the reaction to his retirement👉https://t.co/VxdUiVnqa7 pic.twitter.com/jeV7o7sQ9Q
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) November 24, 2016
Gerrard progressed through the academy system at Anfield to become a household name for his boyhood club, winning a plethora of trophies.
The 2000-01 season proved a memorable campaign for the midfielder after he helped Liverpool win the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup.
Better was to follow four years later when he inspired a remarkable comeback to captain his team to victory in the Champions League final against AC Milan.
Further success in the FA Cup and League Cup would come Gerrard’s way but he missed out on a Premier League title.
The all-action midfielder had retired from England duty by this point – in 2014 – having made 114 appearances and featured at three World Cups and three European Championships.
Despite captaining his country, he was part of the ‘Golden Generation’ who failed to take England beyond the quarter-finals at a major tournament and his final appearance for the Three Lions occurred at the 2014 World Cup.
Gerrard added: “I am excited about the future and feel I still have a lot to offer the game, in whatever capacity that may be.
“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.”
It transpired that Gerrard would return to Liverpool as a youth-team coach only a matter of months after his retirement, before he achieved great success in charge of Rangers, helping them win the Scottish Premiership title for the first time in 10 years in 2021.
He would later depart Ibrox to become Aston Villa manager but was sacked after less than 12 months in charge of the Premier League club in October.