GERRARD RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Former Liverpool and England international Steven Gerrard has announced his retirement from football after 19 years.

The 36-year old is the fourth most capped Three Lions player with 114 games under his belt. He was the captain in three of six international tournaments.

“I feel lucky to have experienced so many wonderful highlights over the course of my career. I have had an incredible career and am thankful for each and every moment of my life at Liverpool, England and LA Galaxy,” Gerrard said.

Gerrard featured in over 700 games for Liverpool, winning nine trophies before moving to America to play in the Major League Soccer for Los Angeles Galaxy in 2015.

“I fulfilled my childhood dream by putting on the famous red shirt of Liverpool,” ‘captain fantastic’ as he is fondly called said.

Gerrard would not be going straight into football management as he said a move to manage MK Dons came too soon. The proposal to manage MK Dons came as he announced that he would be exiting LA Galaxy at the end of the season.

The player has been linked with a move to Celtic and Newcastle. There are reports of a coaching offer at Anfield – Gerrard is working towards getting UEFA A coaching license, the second-highest qualification required to manage a club.

For now, Gerrard says he would ponder critically about his future before committing.

“I am excited about the future and feel I still have a lot to offer the game, in whatever capacity that may be,” he said.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has downplayed an immediate move for Gerrard to join the coaching crew at Anfield but admits that something would come up in future.

“When something is announced, then we will talk. It is clear that one day in the future there will be something to announce, that is pretty sure too, but until then there is nothing to say.”