According to BBC Sport, Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard will join Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy after finalizing an 18-month deal. The current captain of The Reds will pen a contract that will earn him £6m across the 18 months, making him one of the top earners in the competition. An official announcement is expected very soon about the move.
The 34 year old Englishman made a shock decision this Friday not to extend his contract with the club he has represented for seventeen long years since his debut in 1998. Gerrard, who was a local talent, having been born in Whiston, has been one of the key players for the team ever since, amassing 696 appearances so far and scoring 182 goals in the process. Gerrard’s presence will be sorely missed, as even now he stands up to the task of dragging his team to victory when they lack inspiration; just last night he scored a double to allow Liverpool to beat AFC Wimbledon 2-1 in the FA Cup. Furthermore, he is currently Liverpool’s top scorer.
However, his appearances in the league have been restricted to a bit-part role recently, and it is very apparent that his tired legs cannot catch up to the pace that the Premier League is fast accelerating. What’s more, most of his goals this season have come from the penalty spot or via set pieces. Gerrard will be remembered as one of, if not the best, player to have ever donned the Red jersey, and his number eight shirt will forever be iconic at Anfield.
Gerrard has won the Uefa Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups, one Community Shield and two Uefa Super Cups, as well as representing England 114 times during his career. He is regarded as a big game player, and has lived up to his reputation by rescuing his team many times, most notably in the 2005 UEFA Champions League and 2006 FA Cup. Gerrard is also the only player to have scored in an FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup and Champions League final. He came close to winning the Premier League last season, but because of an unfortunate slip, Liverpool fell two points short. However, that must not mar the hugely illustrious and successful career he’s had.
Gerrard will meet up with ex-teammate Robbie Keane, which should be an entertaining prospect for MLS fans in general to look forward to.
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