The former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard has announced his retirement from professional football, ending his 19-year playing career. Gerrard made 710 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 186 goals and winning eight major trophies, including the Champions League in 2005, before joining MLS side LA Galaxy in 2015.
Gerrard, England’s fourth most-capped player, represented his country on 114 occasions and captained England at three major tournaments. At club level, Gerrard lifted the FA Cup on two occasions as well as starring in Liverpool’s penalty shoot-out Champions League victory against Milan in Istanbul. Gerrard remains the only player to have scored in an FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and Uefa Cup final.
“Following recent media speculation surrounding my future I can confirm my retirement from playing professional football,” Gerrard confirmed in a statement on Thursday. “I have had an incredible career and am thankful for each and every moment of my time at Liverpool, England and LA Galaxy.”
The 36-year-old, who left LA Galaxy earlier this month, had been linked with the managerial vacancy at MK Dons but said on Wednesday that the opportunity to move into management had come “a bit too soon” for him. Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, said in October that the club would “always have space” for Gerrard, who spent 17 years at his boyhood club.
