Liverpool Carrier (the beginnings 98 - 03)

Gerrard made his Liverpool first-team debut on 29 November 1998 in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers as a last-minute substitute for Vegard Heggem. He made thirteen appearances in his debut season, filling in for injured captain Jamie Redknapp in centre-midfield. He also occasionally played on the right wing, but he scarcely contributed in the short on-pitch time he received, due to nervousness affecting his play. Gerrard recalled in a November 2008 interview with The Guardian, "I was out of position and out of my depth." The Liverpool hierarchy nonetheless remained convinced that he would improve. Gerrard saw himself as a defensive player primarily, looking to make key tackles rather than push the team forward.

Gerrard began to regularly partner Redknapp in central midfield for the 1999-2000 season. After starting the derby against Everton on the bench, he replaced Robbie Fowler in the second half but received his first career red card for a late foul on Everton's Kevin Campbell shortly afterwards. Later that season, Gerrard scored his first senior goal in a 4–1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday. However, he began to suffer from nagging back problems, which sports consultant Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt later diagnosed as a result of accelerated growth, coupled with excessive playing, during his teenage years. He was then beset by groin injuries that required four separate operations.

He went on to recover from this, and in the 2000–01 season made fifty starts in all competitions and scored ten goals as he won his first major honours with Liverpool – the FA Cup, League Cup, and the UEFA Cup. In the following season, he would go on to win both the FA Charity Shield and UEFA Super Cup.

Early Life

Born in Whiston, Merseyside, Gerrard started out playing for hometown team Whiston Juniors, where he was noticed by Liverpool scouts. He later joined the Liverpool Academy at the age of nine. Gerrard then had trials with various clubs at fourteen, but his success wasn't immediate — Gerrard never made it into the England schoolboys' team. Gerrard's trials included Manchester United, which he claimed in his 2006 autobiography was "to pressure Liverpool into giving me a YTS contract." He signed his first professional contract with Liverpool on 5 November 1997.

1998 - 2012 [The transformation]

1998

 

2000

2005

2008

 

2012

Gerrard : Thank you all! (17 Sept 2012)

Steven Gerrard issued a special message of thanks to football fans the length of the country for the support they gave to Liverpool fans at the weekend following the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report.

You'll Never Walk Alone was played at stadiums across the divisions as a mark of respect to the 96 and in support of the city of Liverpool after an emotional week on Merseyside.

During the Reds' match against Sunderland, flags were flown at half-mast at the Stadium of Light and the home side sent a message of support via the ground's big screens.

"On behalf of the club I'd like to thank everyone in the city, both Red and Blue, and everyone around the country for supporting our club and our fans," said Gerrard.

"It's been mixed emotions since the report came out. We're really happy with the breakthrough but it brings back memories of all those years ago.

"It would have been really nice to take the three points home and dedicate it to the supporters but every fan who watched that game would have been really proud of the effort the team gave."

Steven Gerrard Statement

The following statement has been issued on behalf of Steven Gerrard:

The courage and dignity shown by the Hillsborough families and survivors is an example to all of us.
For 23 years they have fought for truth and justice on behalf of the victims and survivors of this terrible tragedy and all Liverpool supporters.

Victims and survivors suffered not just on April 15, 1989 in Sheffield, but for over two decades afterwards with the shameful slandering of their actions by people who abused their position and power.

Speaking as someone whose family directly suffered, I know the pain and hurt will remain.
However, I hope that today's report helps bring some comfort, now that everyone knows what happened on that day. 

STEVEN GERRARD

Steven Gerrard - The Legend Of Anfield

god of long range screamers 

Profile of Steven Gerrard

Name : Steven George Gerrard Date of birth : 30.05.1980 Place of birth : Whiston, Merseyside Age : 32 Height : 6'1 ft Nationality : England Position : Midfield - Central Midfield Foot : Right Steven George Gerrard MBE (born 30 May 1980) is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool and the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfield role, but he has also been used as a second striker, holding midfielder and right winger. Gerrard, who has spent his entire career at Anfield, made his debut in 1998 and cemented his place in the first team in 2000, succeeding Sami Hyypiä as team captain in 2003. His honours include two FA Cups, three League Cups, two Community Shields, one Champions League, one UEFA Cup, and two Super Cups. Gerrard made his international debut in 2000, and has since represented England at the 2000 and 2004 European Championships, as well as the2006 World Cup – where he was the team's top goalscorer with two goals – and the 2010 World Cup, where he first captained his country in the absence of regular captain Rio Ferdinand, who missed the tournament through injury. He was named as the permanent England captain shortly before the 2012 European Championship, where he was named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament. Gerrard is widely regarded as one of the greatest English footballers ever, as well as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Gerrard came second only to Kenny Dalglish in the "100 Players Who Shook The Kop" – a Liverpool fan poll. Zinedine Zidane said in 2009 that he considered Gerrard one of the best footballers in the world. In 2005, Gerrard was honored as the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and came third in voting for the Ballon d'Or. Additionally, he has been named to the PFA Team of the Year seven times, UEFA Team of the Year and FIFA World XI three times, and was named the FWA Footballer of the Year in 2009. In 2010, The Guardian named Gerrard to their World XI team, which compiled the greatest footballers of all time onto one squad.