I couldn’t just be a bit-part player at the club that I love
The reality is I am going to be 35 in the summer. I have been here for a long time
STEVEN GERRARD has always been honest to a fault and even on Liverpool’s own club media last night he could not help but come clean about the reasons behind his emotional and seismic departure from Anfield. In an emotional interview, the 34-yearold admitted his fear at the prospect of becoming just a regular bit-part performer at the club where he is held up alongside Kenny Dalglish as the club’s greatest ever player was ultimately too devastating to contemplate.
Hence the contract offer he was offered by the club in late-October has remained unsigned and instead he will head to the United States in the summer for a new life and career.
‘I think the key conversation or moment was with the manager when he sat me down not so long ago and said it was time to manage my games for me and for the team,’ said Gerrard as he explained the decision that has caused shockwaves on Merseyside and beyond.
‘I’m bright enough to realise it is the right thing for everyone, but when you’ve been a starter and a mainstay in the team for such a long time, it was it was a very difficult conversation to have with the manager.
‘I accept it and I’ll continue to give everything I’ve got, whether I’m starting, coming off the bench or whatever, but that was the key conversation that swung me to deciding to come away for a short while.
‘The reality is I am going to be 35 in the summer. I’ve been here for a long time, I’ve been coming to this training ground since I was eight years of age. I always knew it was going to end one day and that it was going to be an emotional decision. That decision is here.’
Gerrard was hurt by being left out of Liverpool’s Champions League tie against Real Madrid earlier this season even though he knew deep down manager Brendan Rodgers was only managing the club in the best way he felt fit. He has subsequently been left out of some Premier League matches.
The midfielder had retired from international football after last summer’s World Cup to prolong his club career but even without international football Rodgers felt his legs and physical recovery was not enough for him to play in every single Liverpool game. That situation was only likely to have increased next season.
The relationship between iconic captain and young manager has been under the spotlight all season. A piece by Gerrard’s friend Jamie Carragher suggesting Liverpool had not done enough to keep their leader only added fuel to the fire.
In his own way, Gerrard tried to assure his fans that he can see Rodgers has acted with a professional hat, and that he didn’t feel his treatment has been anything personal.
‘I had an idea it was going to come at some time — I’m a human, not a robot. I’m not 24,’ he said.
‘I wish I was 24, I wish I’d met Brendan when I was 24 because I think I’d be sitting here talking about a lot of titles that we’d won together. The reality is, Brendan came into this club when I was 32 and it’s a shame that relationship didn’t start 10 years ago.
‘I had an idea the conversation was going to come at some time, but it was a painful conversation to have and that was the key moment — along with other things over the last six to 12 months, but that was the conversation. That was the key one.’
Rodgers confirmed there had been no offer of a coaching position to Gerrard in negotiations because he got the impression from the player that he wanted to continue being regarded purely as a player for the time being.
‘Steven has an ambassadorial role in his contract here but, at this moment in time, there wasn’t a coaching offer made to him,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t part of the conversations because Steven hasn’t got his badges, and he isn’t the type who will just go into coaching blind.
‘He is very thoughtful. He is a thinker of the game. His focus was very much in the present — which means playing because he still believes he can play beyond this season.
‘Steven knows that, once he has finished with playing, there will be plenty of time for him to go into coaching if that’s what he wants to do.’
Los Angeles Galaxy looks his likeliest destination but for now Gerrard admits his biggest challenge is keeping his own emotions in check so he can help Liverpool in the remaining months of the season. They begin their FA Cup campaign at League Two AFC Wimbledon tomorrow night.
‘It’s been an emotional 24 hours for myself and my family, but there are still six months to go and I’ve still got plenty to try and achieve, so I am trying to keep my focus on that. There’ll be plenty of time for tears and sentiment come the end of the season,’ he insisted.
Going to California with wife Alex and their three daughters doesn’t sound like a punishment, but breaking the news that they would soon be leaving the only home they’ve known was not easy.
‘It was tough to tell the girls, even though they’re not big football fans,’ he said. ‘But to tell them their dad wasn’t going to play for Liverpool anymore still hit them pretty hard.
‘That’s when the emotion started in the house. At the same time, it’s exciting — it’s a great opportunity for my family and myself.’