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Home , FA Cup Final, Florent Sinama Pongolle, Ian Callaghan, Ian Rush, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard

Sports FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016 , heroism and heartbreak

LONDON: Steven Gerrard, who retired Gerrard as it coincided with the 25th captaining the team at three major tour- est appearance-maker, behind only Ian from professional football yesterday, will anniversary of the , naments, scarcely offered respite. Callaghan and , and with a be remembered almost as much for his in which his 10-year-old cousin, Jon-Paul claim to the title of the club’s greatest-ever agonizing near-misses as for his extraor- Gilhooley, was the youngest of the 96 ‘Best in the world’ player that only can contest. dinary achievements. The 36-year-old fans who died. Weeks later, But taken as a whole, in his club career- “Because of what he has done for the club, I captained home-town club Liverpool for Gerrard went to Brazil hoping to salve his which began when he walked through the believe he is the best,” Carragher, Gerrard’s 12 years famously lifting the Champions wounds at the World Cup, only for doors of Liverpool’s academy at the age of fellow Scouser and former team-mate, told League trophy in 2005 after an unforget- to crash out after two matches in eight-he scaled nearly every summit.From in 2012. “Dalglish, table comeback against AC Milan. But what would prove his final international the header that sparked the comeback to (Graeme) Souness and all played coveted successes elsewhere escaped tournament. end all comebacks against Milan in together in a great team, but because foot- him. Although he also won two FA Cups, “It’s probably been the worst three Istanbul to the jaw-dropping 35-yard thun- ball is a team game, it’s been harder for three League Cups and the UEFA Cup, he months of my life,” he admitted after- derbolt against West Ham United that Stevie because he’s not always played in never laid his hands on the Premier wards. He finished his career with a sun- took the 2006 FA Cup final to extra time, great teams. League trophy and met with nothing but kissed 18-month stint in California, fol- Gerrard swaggered through his “People will not fully realize how good heartbreak in his 14-year England career. lowing in the footsteps of former England career with the audacity of a comic-book he has been until he stops playing.” Unlike He left Liverpool in 2015 after a 12-month colleague by signing for hero. A turbo-charged midfield dynamo in Beckham, Gerrard shied away from the period that reflected the latter years of his the LA Galaxy. Stateside silverware would his pomp, he came third in the voting for celebrity lifestyle, but at his peak he career in microcosm-glorious opportuni- elude him, however, and he admitted to the Ballon d’Or in 2005 and was voted the hogged England’s football limelight like ty, followed by crushing disappointment. finding the amount of travel involved dif- greatest player in Liverpool’s history by few before him. “You are always going to Gerrard was poised to capture his first ficult. Gerrard endured more than his fair fans in a 2013 poll. have incredible moments and you are also crown in 2014, but his share of disappointment after inspiring No less a judge than going to have some cruel lows as well,” he cruel slip during a loss to Chelsea at an Liverpool to glory in the 2006 FA Cup, observed in 2009: “Is he the best in the has said. “Nobody’s journey ever goes expectant Anfield tilted the momentum with the 2012 League Cup the only major world? He might not get the attention of smoothly-mine certainly hasn’t-but I am in the title race in City’s honor he won subsequently. Playing for Messi and Ronaldo, but yes, I think he might certainly proud of it and I wouldn’t change favour. The pain was all the keener for England, which he did on 114 occasions, be.” He left Anfield as Liverpool’s third-high- it for anything.” —AFP

Former Liverpool and England Gerrard greatest captain Steven Gerrard retires Liverpool games

LONDON: Former Liverpool and LONDON: Former Liverpool and England skipper Steven England captain Steven Gerrard Gerrard called time on his glittering playing career yester- announced his retirement yesterday a day at the age of 36. AFP Sport remembers five of the week after confirming he would not be Liverpool legend’s finest displays: returning to play for MLS side LA Galaxy. “Following recent media speculation Miracle in Istanbul surrounding my future I can confirm my (V AC Milan, 2004-05 Champions League final) - Faced retirement from playing professional with the prospect of a humiliating defeat after falling 3-0 football,” Gerrard, 36, said in a state- behind against an inspired AC Milan, Liverpool overcame ment. “I’ve had an incredible career and extraordinary odds to win their first European Cup for 21 I’m thankful for each and every moment years thanks to Gerrard, whose never-say-die efforts at the of my time with Liverpool, England and Ataturk Stadium ensured he would forever be regarded as LA Galaxy.” Gerrard spent virtually his an Anfield icon. In the signature moment of Gerrard’s sto- entire career at Liverpool having made ried career, the , who admitted he was certain his debut as a substitute against Liverpool would lose at half-time, helped orchestrate a Blackburn Rovers in 1998. He is third on comeback for the ages. He reduced the deficit with a the club’s all-time appearances list with header before winning the penalty that led to Xabi 710, behind only Jamie Carragher and Alonso’s equaliser as Rafael Benitez’s side scored three . times in five incredible minutes. The Reds completed their He scored 120 goals in 504 Premier astonishing triumph in a penalty shoot-out, leaving League games. One of the most highly- Gerrard to experience “the best moment of my life” as he regarded midfield players in world lifted the trophy. football at his peak, he was capped 114 times for England, 40 as captain, and The ‘Gerrard final’ played in six major tournaments. (V West Ham, 2005-06 FA Cup final) - Just 12 months Gerrard left Liverpool in 2015 and after his heroics in Istanbul, Gerrard added to his growing spent 18 months with Galaxy, scoring legend by almost single-handedly winning another piece five goals in 34 appearances. While he of silverware in a final destined to be remembered for his never managed to win an English majestic contribution. Trailing 2-0 after a woeful start at league title medal with Liverpool, ’s , Liverpool were dragged Gerrard will forever be associated with back into the match on the strength of Gerrard’s talent the Champions League final in 2005 and tenacity. He set up Djibril Cisse to reduce the deficit when Liverpool fought back from 3-0 before equalizing himself, only for the Hammers to regain down at halftime to win on penalties in the lead. The Reds were seconds away from defeat when Istanbul. Gerrard struck again with a blistering 35-yard drive to Gerrard scored Liverpool’s first goal force extra-time. Liverpool went on to win in a penalty and drove the team on to arguably one shoot-out that inevitably featured a successful spot-kick of the greatest nights in the club’s his- from the captain. tory. Liverpool had looked on course for a first title in 24 years in 2014 after Last-gasp European heroics an 11-match winning streak but CARDIFF: Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard scores his sides 3rd goal against (V Olympiakos, 2004-05 Champions League) - When Gerrard’s costly stumble at home to West Ham United during the FA Cup Final soccer match at the gave Olympiakos a shock lead at Anfield in a deci- Chelsea in April gifted a goal Millennium Stadium in this file photo. —AP sive group-stage clash, it appeared Benitez’s team were that put the visitors on the way to a 2-0 destined for a lacklustre exit. But Gerrard rose to the occa- victory. The club’s title charge fell apart Liverpool, three League Cups and the games for Liverpool, many as captain, sion with an unmatchable fervour that inspired an epic thereafter and Manchester City UEFA Cup. Individually he was named and helping to bring major honors fightback. Goals from Florent Sinama Pongolle and Neil snatched it. “There’s not a day that in third place in FIFA’s World Player of back to the club, none more so than Mellor put Liverpool within a solitary strike of progressing goes by that I don’t think about what if the Year in 2005 and PFA Player of the the famous night in Istanbul,” Gerrard to the knockout stages, setting the stage for Gerrard to fire that didn’t happen,” Gerrard once said. Year in 2006. “I feel lucky to have expe- said in his lengthy statement. He has home with a sweetly struck shot from just outside the As well as the Champions League, rienced so many wonderful highlights been linked with a return to Anfield in a penalty area in the 86th minute.—AFP Gerrard won two FA Cups with and I’m proud to have played over 700 coaching capacity. —Reuters