Steven Gerrard – A Final Goodbye

Every once in a while, there comes a man who redefines the impossible. A hero who inspires millions & influences an entire generation in his wake. A legend whose remarkable feats are difficult to pen down, yet they’re passed down generations through folklore. Children idolize him & his glorious ways; they try to mimic his personality. They want to be him.

One such man dons the Number 8 shirt for Liverpool every week.

Steven George Gerrard lived out his childhood Anfield dream. He shouldered the hopes & aspirations of millions of boys who looked up to him and placed him on the highest pedestal. Many could only dream the dream. He embodied it.

Rising quickly through the club’s ranks, his brilliance was spotted early on by then-manager Gerard Houllier. A potential talent had been fostered in the Liverpool academy, and Houllier was not going to let this one go easily. By the start of the 2003-04 season, the player had established himself as Liverpool’s on-field leader, and it came as no surprise when Houllier gave him the captain’s armband in place of Hyypia. The decision proved to be one of the most influential ones in Houllier’s managerial stint.

Every time he kissed the Liverbird on his chest, he meant it. One could count on him to rescue Liverpool out of the most dreadful of situations. Back in Istanbul, he lifted an entire team to an unimaginable level; all to match his zeal & passion for the club. It was a team of players for which reaching the final was a feat unimaginable, let alone winning it against one of the strongest Milan sides ever. That day, history was rewritten. Gerrard had single-handedly inspired one of the biggest comebacks in football history. Once again, just a local Scouser boy breaching the zenith of his footballing dreams & potential.

But that was just the beginning. The blistering volley that shook West Ham – and helped Liverpool win on penalties in a dramatic FA Cup final back in 2006 – was nominated for Match of the Day’s goal of the season. Gerrard was never really one for simplistic endings; gut-wrenching cup finals that shook each fan to the core were his thing. One could always expect Gerrard to bail Liverpool out in the dying moments of a game with seconds to go on the clock. A thunderous volley from 25 yards out or a pounding header after a breathless run from midfield. That one second of brilliance from him was pure magic and the stuff of miracles.

What Liverpool is going to miss most is having one of the world’s most complete midfielders amongst their ranks. A versatile and dynamic veteran of the game, his experience & leadership will be sorely missed. Captaining Liverpool to a commanding 4-0 win over a Galactico ridden Madrid and beating Barcelona in their own backyard were two remarkable feats that formed small pieces of a long & illustrious career.

Today, it can be said with pride that the world has witnessed a true footballing legend in the flesh. With players changing clubs as fast as ever, the ratio of players who played solely for the crest was diminishing rapidly. Hearing tales of Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish bring in trophy after trophy and helping Liverpool dominate the European scene back in the 80s, one could only dream of reliving those experiences.

What Gerrard so admirably did was make this distant dream a reality. Stories of the great Steven Gerrard will be passed down generations of Liverpudlian families, tales of his heroic displays retold, songs of his brilliance sung by the Kop. He was a selfless gentleman of the game, a true pioneer and an inspiration for millions. That’s what I would so relentlessly tell my grandchildren. With a hope that they can acknowledge the great Stevie G for the man he was and for the way he changed the lives of many.

This day marks the end of an era. A decade of loyalty, humility and respect. A decade of footballing genius.

Thank you, Stevie G. It’s been one hell of a ride.