After 114 appearances and 14 years of service, England Captain Steven Gerrard has retired from international football. Tipped as one of the greatest ever to have worn the Three Lions shirt, the Liverpool legend has called time on his international career to focus on Liverpool’s busy season ahead. Having grown up on a council estate in Whiston, Liverpool, the central midfielder has never been short of courage nor bravery, Gerrard demonstrated this from an early age, fighting back from a potentially career threatening injury. Gerrard had always shown he had the potential and commitment needed to become a successful captain.
Steven Gerrard: Captain Fantastic
Steven Gerrard will be sorely missed by his country and the player chosen to succeed him will have a tough act to follow. Gerrard’s England career has spanned 4 World Cups and 4 European Championships, accumulating 21 goals in the process. Unfortunately for the Liverpool captain, he never quite earned the success he deserved in an England shirt. Having failed to reach past the quarter finals with his English counter parts in all 8 major competitions he has participated in, he seemed to have always been short of luck. His personal record speaks for itself; winning 71 of the 114 games he played in, Gerrard was always the heartbeat of the England side. However, the box-to-box midfielder never quite received the recognition his skill and commitment warranted. As being born into the so-called “Golden Generation”, Gerrard had to compete with the likes of Scholes, Lampard, Barry and Beckham all vying for a place in a star-studded England side, yet despite competition from some of the best footballing talent the world had to offer, Gerrard still started 110 of his 114 games.
Steven Gerrard began his England career as a fresh faced 20 year old against Ukraine, making a lasting impression at first show. Yet the scouser’s real impact came when England faced Germany in a World Cup qualifier in Munich; England came away with a historical and emphatic 5-1 victory, with Gerrard adding to the scoring with a beautifully struck volley. As his caps racked up, his career was only heading in one direction, captaincy. It was merely a matter of time before the Liverpool captain, who had proven himself over many a season at club level, would take the role as national team captain. After the John Terry controversy, it was finally Gerrard’s turn to lead his nation on the international stage. The number 4 went on to captain England 38 times and did so at both Euro 2012 and the World Cup in Brazil. Footballers past and present paid tribute to Gerrard, describing him as a “wonderful servant” and a “class act”. Fellow midfielder, Jordan Henderson, hailed his Liverpool teammate as “the best player this country has ever seen”. The loss of its inspirational captain has left a nation questioning whether the next captain of England will be a worthy successor.
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