Steven Gerrard retires from professional football

Former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard has ended his 19-year playing career with an announcement on Thursday.

The announcement comes a week after confirming he would not be returning to his MLS side, LA Galaxy.

Gerrard was Liverpool’s longest serving captain, making 710 appearances for the club and inspiring them to their famous Champions League final victory over AC Milan in 2005.

He led his team-mates to win the FA Cup twice in 2001 and 2006, the League Cup on three occasions (2001, 2003, 2012) and the UEFA Cup in 2001 during his 18-year stay with the club.

Gerrard who joined the American side LA Galaxy in 2015, made 36 appearances for the team and scored 5 goals.

Speaking about his retirement from professional football, Gerrard said: “I have got no regrets. I have loved the experience. I have met some incredible people on and off the pitch. I absolutely idolize my team-mates who I have shared the journey with over the 17, 18 months. I have learnt a lot off the coaches and off my team-mates and I will certainly use that for myself going forward because, although I am going back to England to live, it is certainly not the end for me in football terms.”

The 36-year-old who has been linked to the vacant managerial position at MK Dons says he needs time to consider the options available to him.

“Everyone is aware that I have got a contract with BT Sport to analyse the Premier League and Champions League games, which I will honour once I am back,” he said but was quick to add that “I have got a bit of thinking to do over the next two, three weeks.”

“I am not ready to make a decision, or finalise anything that I am going to be doing moving forward. What I will say is that I am going home to spend some time with my family and basically go over my options and decide what is the best next challenge for me.”

Steven Gerrard made his debut for Liverpool in 1998 and went on to establish himself as one of Europe’s most dynamic midfield players.

At the international level, he won 114 caps for England, making him his country’s fourth most capped player of all time after Peter Shilton, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham.