Anfield
View from the Kop
Location	Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Coordinates	53°25′50.95″N 2°57′38.98″W / 53.4308194°N 2.9608278°W / 53.4308194; -2.9608278Coordinates: 53°25′50.95″N 2°57′38.98″W / 53.4308194°N 2.9608278°W / 53.4308194; -2.9608278
Opened	1884
Owner	Liverpool F.C.[1]
Operator	Liverpool F.C.
Surface	Desso GrassMaster[2]
Capacity	45,276[3]
Field dimensions	101 metres (110 yd) by 68 metres (74 yd)[4]
Tenants
Everton Liverpool	1884–1892 1892–present

Anfield is a football stadium in Anfield, Liverpool, England which has a seating capacity of 45,276.^[3] It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892. It was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, when they moved to Goodison Park.

The stadium has four stands: the Spion Kop, Main Stand, Centenary Stand and Anfield Road. The record attendance of 61,905, was set at a match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1952. The ground's conversion to an all-seater stadium in 1994 as a result of the Taylor Report greatly reduced its capacity.

Two gates at the ground are named after former Liverpool managers: Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. A statue of Shankly is situated outside the stadium. The ground is 2 miles (3 km) from Liverpool Lime Street railway station.

Plans to replace Anfield with a new 60,000-capacity stadium in adjacent Stanley Park were initiated in 2002. Fenway Sports Group's acquisition of Liverpool in 2010 made the construction of a new stadium doubtful as they have said they would prefer to redevelop Anfield.

History[link]

The topmast rescued from SS Great Eastern

Opened in 1884, Anfield was originally owned by John Orrell, a minor land owner who was a friend of an Everton F.C. member John Houlding.^[5] Everton, who previously played at Priory Road, were in need of a new venue owing to the noise produced by the crowd on match days.^[6] Orrell lent the pitch to the club in exchange for a small rent. The first match at the ground was between Everton and Earlestown on 28 September 1884, which Everton won 5–0.^[7] During Everton's tenure at the stadium, stands were erected for some of the 8,000-plus spectators regularly attending matches, although the ground was capable of holding around 20,000 spectators and occasionally did. The ground was considered of international standard at the time, playing host to the British Home Championship match between England and Ireland in 1889. Anfield's first league match was played on 8 September 1888, between Everton and Accrington F.C. Everton quickly improved as a team, and became Anfield's first league champions in the 1890–91 season.^[8]

The "THIS IS ANFIELD!" sign above the tunnel to the pitch at Anfield. It was installed by former manager Bill Shankly to instil fear into the opposition.

In 1892, negotiations to purchase the land at Anfield from Orrell escalated into a dispute between Houlding and the Everton F.C. committee over how the club was run. Events culminated in Everton's move to Goodison Park.^[6] Houlding was left with an empty stadium, and decided to form a new club to occupy it. The new team was called Liverpool F.C. and Athletic Grounds Ltd, and the club's first match at Anfield was a friendly played in front of 200 people on 1 September 1892, against Rotherham Town. Liverpool won 7–1.^[9]

Liverpool's first Football League match at Anfield was played on 9 September 1893, against Lincoln City. Liverpool won 4–0 in front of 5,000 spectators.^[10] A new stand capable of holding 3,000 spectators was constructed in 1895 on the site of the present Main Stand. Designed by architect Archibald Leitch,^[11] the stand had a distinctive red and white gable, and was similar to the main stand at Newcastle United's ground St James' Park.^[9] Another stand was constructed at the Anfield Road end in 1903, built from timber and corrugated iron. After Liverpool had won their second League championship in 1906, a new stand was built along the Walton Breck Road. Local journalist Ernest Edwards, who was the sports editor of newspapers the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, christened it the Spion Kop; it was named after a famous hill in South Africa where a local regiment had suffered heavy losses during the Boer War in 1900. More than 300 men had died, many of them from Liverpool, as the British army attempted to capture the strategic hilltop. Around the same period a stand was also built along Kemlyn Road.^[12]

The ground remained much the same until 1928, when the Kop was redesigned and extended to hold 30,000 spectators, all standing. A roof was erected as well.^[13] Many stadia in England had stands named after the Spion Kop. Anfield's was the largest Kop in the country at the time—it was able to hold more supporters than some entire football grounds.^[14] In the same year the topmast of the SS Great Eastern, one of the first iron ships, was rescued from the ship breaking yard at nearby Rock Ferry, and was hauled up Everton Valley by a team of horses, to be erected alongside the new Kop. It still stands there, serving as a flag pole.^[15]

Floodlights were installed at a cost of £12,000 in 1957. On 30 October they were switched on for the first time for a match against Everton to commemorate the 75-year anniversary of the Liverpool County Football Association.^[14] In 1963 the old Kemlyn Road stand was replaced by a cantilevered stand, built at a cost of £350,000, and able to hold 6,700 spectators.^[16] Two years later alterations were made at the Anfield Road end, turning it into a large covered standing area. The biggest redevelopment came in 1973, when the old Main Stand was demolished and a new one constructed. At the same time, the pylon floodlights were pulled down and new lights installed along the top of the Kemlyn Road and Main Stands. The new stand was officially opened by the Duke of Kent on 10 March 1973.^[16] In the 1980s the paddock in front of the Main Stand was turned into seating, and in 1982 seats were introduced at the Anfield Road end. The Shankly Gates were erected in 1982, a tribute to former manager Bill Shankly; his widow Nessie unlocked them for the first time on 26 August 1982.^[15] Across the Shankly Gates are the words You'll Never Walk Alone, the title of the hit song by Gerry & The Pacemakers adopted by Liverpool fans as the club's anthem during Shankly's time as manager.^[17]

A statue in honour of Bill Shankly, which was erected in 1997 outside The Kop

Coloured seats and a police room were added to the Kemlyn Road stand in 1987. After the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 where overcrowding led to the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans, the Taylor Report recommended that all grounds in the country should be converted into all-seater grounds by May 1994.^[18] A second tier was added to the Kemlyn Road stand in 1992, turning it into a double-decker layout. It included executive boxes and function suites as well as 11,000 seating spaces. Plans to expand the stand had been made earlier, with the club buying up houses on Kemlyn Road during the 1970s and 1980s, but had to be put on hold until 1990 because two sisters, Joan and Nora Mason, refused to sell their house. When the club reached an agreement with the sisters in 1990, the expansion plans were put into action.^[19] The stand—renamed the Centenary Stand—was officially opened on 1 September 1992 by UEFA president Lennart Johansson. The Kop was rebuilt in 1994 after the recommendations of the Taylor Report and became all seated; it is still a single tier, and the capacity was significantly reduced to 12,390.^[14]

On 4 December 1997, a bronze statue of Bill Shankly was unveiled at the visitors' centre in front of the Kop. Standing at over 8 feet (2.4 m) tall, the statue depicts Shankly with a fan's scarf around his neck, in a familiar pose he adopted when receiving applause from fans. Inscribed on the statue are the words "Bill Shankly – He Made The People Happy".^[20] The Hillsborough memorial is situated alongside the Shankly Gates, and is always decorated with flowers and tributes to the 96 people who died in 1989 as a result of the disaster. At the centre of the memorial is an eternal flame, signifying that those who died will never be forgotten.^[21] The most recent structural change to Anfield came in 1998 when the new two-tier Anfield Road end was opened. The stand has encountered a number of problems since its redevelopment; at the beginning of the 1999–2000 season, a series of support poles and stanchions had to be brought in to give extra stability to the top tier of the stand. During Ronnie Moran's testimonial match against Celtic, many fans complained of movement of the top tier. At the same time that the stanchions were inserted, the executive seating area was expanded by two rows in the main stand, lowering the seating capacity in the paddock.^[22]

Structures and facilities[link]

Outline of Anfield; Centenary Stand (top), The Kop (right), Main Stand (bottom) and Anfield Road stand (left)

Anfield comprises 45,276 seats split between four stands: the Anfield Road end, the Centenary Stand, the Kop, and the Main Stand. The Anfield Road end and Centenary Stand are two-tiered, while the Kop and Main Stand are single-tiered.^[23] Entry to the stadium is gained by radio-frequency identification (RFID) smart cards rather than the traditional manned turnstile. This system, used in all 80 turnstiles around Anfield, was introduced in 2005.^[24]

The Kop is a large single-tiered stand. Originally a large terraced banking providing accommodation for more than 30,000 spectators, the current incarnation was constructed in 1994–95 and is single-tiered with no executive boxes. The Kop houses the club's museum, the Reducate centre and the official club shop.^[25] The Kop is the most-renowned stand at Anfield among home and away supporters, with the people who occupy the stand referred to as kopites. Such was the reputation that the stand had it was claimed that the crowd in the Kop could suck the ball into the goal.^[26] Traditionally, Liverpool's most vocal supporters congregate in this stand.^[27]

The Paisley Gateway outside The Kop, which was erected in honour of former manager Bob Paisley

The oldest stand at Anfield is the Main Stand, which was completed in 1982. It is a single-tiered stand that houses the dressing rooms and directors' box. The press and directors VIP box are located in the middle of the stand. The large roof is supported by two thin central uprights, with a large suspended television camera gantry.^[28] The players' tunnel and the technical area where the managers and substitutes sit during the match are in the middle of the stand at pitch level. Above the stairs leading down to the pitch hangs a sign stating "THIS IS ANFIELD". Its purpose is to both intimidate the opposition and to bring the Liverpool players who touch it good luck. Accordingly, Liverpool players and coaching staff reach up and place one or both hands on it as they pass underneath.^[29]

The Centenary Stand is a two-tiered stand. Originally a single-tiered stand called the Kemlyn Road Stand, the second tier was added in 1992 to coincide with the club's centenary.^[30] It is located opposite of the Main Stand and houses directors' boxes, which are between the two tiers. The stand also houses the ground's police station.^[23]

The Anfield Road stand, on the left side of the Main Stand, houses the away fans during matches. The Anfield Road End was rebuilt in 1965, and multi-coloured seats were added in 1982. Originally a single-tier stand, a further revamp, which was completed in 1998, gave the stand a second-tier providing additional seating.^[30]

There are 59 spaces available in the stadium to accommodate wheelchair users who have season tickets; a further 33 spaces are available for general sale and 8 are allocated to away supporters. These spaces are located in the Main Stand, Anfield Road Stand and The Kop. There are 38 spaces available for the visually impaired, which are situated in the paddock area of the Main Stand, with space for one personal assistant each. A headset with full commentary is provided.^[31]

The stadium features tributes to two of the club's most successful managers. The Paisley Gateway is a tribute to Bob Paisley, who guided Liverpool to three European Cups and six League Championships in the 1970s and '80s. The gates were erected at the Kop; their design includes representations of the three European Cups Paisley won during his tenure, the crest of his birthplace in Hetton-le-Hole, and the crest of Liverpool F.C.^[32] The Shankly Gates, in tribute of Bill Shankly, Paisley's predecessor between 1959 and 1974, are at the Anfield Road end. Their design includes a Scottish flag, a Scottish thistle, the Liverpool badge, and the words "You'll Never Walk Alone".^[33]

Future[link]

The Kop; the atmosphere generated by the crowd in the stand has led owner John W. Henry to reconsider the construction of a new stadium.

Plans to replace Anfield were originally initiated by Liverpool in May 2002.^[34] The proposed capacity was 55,000, but it was later revised to 61,000, with 1,000 seats given for segregation between home and away fans. Several attempts were made between 2003 to 2007 by the Liverpool City Council to instigate a groundshare of the proposed stadium with local rivals Everton, but this move was rejected, as neither club favoured it.^[35] On 30 July 2004 Liverpool was granted planning permission to build a new stadium 300 yards (270 m) away from Anfield at Stanley Park.^[36] On 8 September 2006 Liverpool City Council agreed to grant Liverpool F.C. a 999-year lease of the land on the proposed site.^[37]

Following the takeover of Liverpool F.C. on 6 February 2007 by George Gillett and Tom Hicks, the proposed stadium was redesigned. In November 2007 the redesigned layout was approved by the council, and construction was due to start in early 2008.^[38] The new stadium, provisionally called Stanley Park Stadium, was to be built by HKS, Inc.. It was scheduled to open in August 2011 with a capacity of 60,000.^[39] If the new stadium is built Anfield will be demolished. The land will become home to the centrepiece for the Anfield Plaza development, which would include a hotel, restaurants, and offices.^[40] However, the construction of Stanley Park was delayed following the economic crisis of 2008 and the subsequent recession, which directly affected the then American owners. The situation was worsened because the club was bought with borrowed money, not the owners' capital, and interest rates were higher than expected.^[41] Hicks and Gillett promised to begin work on the stadium within 60 days of acquisition of the club, but had trouble financing the estimated £500 million needed for the Stanley Park development. The deadline passed, and as of June 2011 the site remains untouched.^[42] The delays had repercussions in the local district of Anfield, with regeneration plans on hold until the future of the football stadium is decided.^[43]

The acquisition of Liverpool by Fenway Sports Group in October 2010 put into question whether Liverpool would leave Anfield. In February 2011 the new club owner, John W. Henry, stated he had a preference for remaining at Anfield and expanding the capacity. After attending a number of games at Anfield, Henry stated that "the Kop is unrivalled", adding "it would be hard to replicate that feeling anywhere else".^[44]

Other uses[link]

Anfield has hosted numerous international matches, and was one of the venues used during Euro 96; the ground hosted three group games and a quarter-final.^[45] The first international match hosted at Anfield was between England and Ireland, in 1889. England won the match 6–1. Anfield was also the home venue for several of England's international football matches in the early 1900s and for the Welsh team in the later part of that century.^[46][47] Anfield has also played host to five FA Cup semi-finals, the last of which was in 1929.^[46] The most recent international to be hosted at Anfield was England's 2–1 victory over Uruguay on 1 March 2006.^[48] England has played two testimonial matches against Liverpool at Anfield. The first was in 1983, when England faced Liverpool for Phil Thompson's testimonial. Then, in 1988, England visited again for Alan Hansen's testimonial.^[49]

Anfield has been the venue for many other events. During the mid-twenties, Anfield was the finishing line for the city marathon. Liverpool held an annual race which started from St George's plateau in the city centre and finished with a lap of Anfield.^[46] Boxing matches were regularly held at Anfield during the inter-war years, including a number of British boxing championships; on 12 June 1934 Nel Tarleton beat Freddie Miller for the World Featherweight title. Professional tennis was played at Anfield on boards on the pitch. US Open champion, Bill Tilden, and Wimbledon champion, Fred Perry, entertained the crowds in an exhibition match. In 1958, an exhibition basketball match featuring the Harlem Globetrotters was held at the ground.^[50] The 1991 World Club Challenge rugby league match, between the Penrith Panthers, winners of the Australian National Rugby League, and the Wigan Warriors, winners of the European Super League was held at the ground in front of 20,152 people. In addition to rugby league, Anfield has been confirmed as one of the grounds that will host matches during the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup.^[51] Aside from sporting uses, Anfield has been a venue for musicians of different genres as well as evangelical preachers. One week in July 1984, the American evangelist Billy Graham preached at Anfield, attracting crowds of over 30,000 each night.^[46] Anfield was featured in Liverpool's 2008 European Capital of Culture celebrations: 36,000 people attended a concert on 1 June 2008, featuring The Zutons, Kaiser Chiefs, and Paul McCartney.^[52]

Records[link]

Average attendance at Anfield since 1947

The highest attendance recorded at Anfield is 61,905, for Liverpool's match against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup fifth round, on 2 February 1952.^[53] The lowest attendance recorded at Anfield was 1,000 for a match against Loughborough on 7 December 1895.^[54] The highest average attendance of 48,127 was set in 1978.^[30]

Liverpool did not lose a match at Anfield during the 1893–94, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1987–88, and 2008–09 seasons. They won all their home games during the 1893–94 season. Liverpool's longest winning streak at home extended from January 1978 to January 1981, a period encompassing 85 games, in which Liverpool scored 212 goals and conceded 35.^[53] Liverpool's worst losing streak at Anfield is three games. This occurred three times in the club's history to date (1899–1900, 1906–07 and 1908–09 seasons).^[55]

Transport[link]

The stadium is about 2 miles (3 km) from Lime Street Station,^[56] which lies on a branch of the West Coast Main Line from London Euston. Kirkdale Station, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the stadium, is the nearest station to Anfield. Fans travelling by train for matches may book direct to Anfield or Goodison Park, changing to the Merseytravel Soccerbus service at Sandhills Station on the Merseyrail Northern Line.^[57] The stadium has no parking facilities for supporters, and the streets around the ground allow parking only for residents with permits. There are proposals under consideration for reinstating passenger traffic on the Bootle Branch, which would cut the distance from the nearest train station to about 0.5 miles (1 km).^[58]

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

• Adams, Duncan (2007). A Fan's Guide to Football Grounds: England and Wales. Hersham: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-7110-3268-2. http://www.footballgroundguide.com/liverpool/. 
• Graham, Matthew (1984). Liverpool. Twickenham: Hamlyn Publishing. ISBN 0-600-50254-6. 
• Inglis, Simon (1983). The Football Grounds of England and Wales. Beverley: Willow. ISBN 0-00-218024-3. 
• Kelly, Stephen F. (1988). You'll Never Walk Alone. London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-356-19594-5. 
• Liversedge, Stan (1991). Liverpool The Official Centenary History. London: Hamlyn Publishing. ISBN 0-600-57308-7. 
• Moynihan, Leo (2008). The Liverpool Miscellany. London: Vision Sports Publishing. ISBN 978-1-905326-46-4. 
• Smith, Tommy (2008). Anfield Iron. London: Bantam Press. ISBN 0-593-05958-1. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Anfield Stadium

• Anfield at LiverpoolFC.tv

Links to related articles v t e Everton Football Club The club History Players Managers Staff Records and statistics Internationals Seasons All articles Home Stadium Anfield (1884–1892) Goodison Park (1892–present) The Kirkby Project Training Ground Bellefield (1946–2007) Finch Farm (2007–present) Miscellaneous Merseyside derby David France Collection Supporters St Luke's Church EvertonTV Former Players' Foundation Prince Rupert's Tower Founding Fathers of Merseyside Football The Everton Song Gwladys Street's Hall of Fame Affiliated Academies Asia–Pacific Football Academy Chang–Everton Football Academy Affiliates Everton Ladies Everton Tigers (no longer affiliated with Everton F.C.) Book:Everton F.C. Category:Everton F.C. Portal:Association football Commons:Everton F.C. v t e Liverpool Football Club Honours Managers Seasons Records and Statistics Reserves and Academy History 1892–1959 1959–1985 1985–present Europe Founding Fathers of Merseyside Football Home stadium Anfield Training ground Melwood Players 100+ appearances 25–99 appearances 1–24 appearances Rivalries Head-to-head record Merseyside derby Manchester United F.C. rivalry Tragedies Heysel disaster Hillsborough disaster Liverpool F.C. songs You'll Never Walk Alone The Fields of Anfield Road Ring of Fire Anfield Rap Related articles The Boot Room LFC TV Liverpool L.F.C. Spion Kop Superleague Formula team Book:Liverpool F.C. Category:Liverpool F.C. Portal:Association football WikiProject:Liverpool F.C. Commons:Liverpool F.C. v t e Premier League venues Current Anfield Boleyn Ground Britannia Stadium Carrow Road City of Manchester Stadium Craven Cottage DW Stadium Emirates Stadium Goodison Park Liberty Stadium Loftus Road Madejski Stadium Old Trafford St James' Park St Mary's Stadium Stadium of Light Stamford Bridge The Hawthorns Villa Park White Hart Lane Former Bloomfield Road Boundary Park Bramall Lane City Ground County Ground Elland Road Ewood Park Fratton Park Hillsborough Stadium KC Stadium Molineux Stadium Oakwell Portman Road Pride Park Stadium Reebok Stadium Riverside Stadium St Andrew's Selhurst Park The Valley Turf Moor Valley Parade Vicarage Road Walkers Stadium Demolished Arsenal Stadium (Highbury) Ayresome Park Baseball Ground Burnden Park The Dell Filbert Street Highfield Road Maine Road Roker Park v t e 1996 European Championship stadiums Anfield (Liverpool) City Ground (Nottingham) Elland Road (Leeds) Hillsborough Stadium (Sheffield) Old Trafford (Manchester) St James' Park (Newcastle) Villa Park (Birmingham) Wembley Stadium (London) v t e Venues of the 2015 Rugby World Cup Anfield (Liverpool) Elland Road (Leeds) Emirates Stadium (London) Kingsholm (Gloucester) Millennium Stadium (Cardiff) Old Trafford (Manchester) Ricoh Arena (Coventry) St Mary's Stadium (Southampton) St James' Park (Newcastle upon Tyne) Twickenham Stadium (London) Welford Road (Leicester) Wembley Stadium (London) v t e Buildings and structures in Liverpool, England Skyscrapers and highrises (over 60m) 1 Princes Dock Alexandra Tower Beetham Tower Mann Island Buildings Municipal Buildings New Hall Place One Park West The Plaza Port of Liverpool Building Post & Echo Building Radio City Tower Royal Liver Building Thistle Atlantic Tower Unity Commercial Unity Residential West Tower Notable lowrises Albert Dock Alder Hey Children's Hospital Bank of England Bluecoat Chambers Britannia Adelphi Hotel BT Convention Centre Chinese Arch County Sessions House Crowne Plaza LJLA Cunard Building Empire Theatre Everyman Theatre Grand Central Hall Great North Western Hotel Hargreaves Building Hilton Liverpool India Buildings International Slavery Museum Liverpool Central Library Liverpool Cotton Exchange Building Liverpool Magistrates' Court Liverpool Playhouse Liverpool Town Hall Liverpool Women's Hospital The Lyceum Malmaison Merseyside Maritime Museum Museum of Liverpool National Conservation Centre Oratory Oriel Chambers Philharmonic Hall Prudential Assurance Building Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts Royal Court Theatre Royal Insurance Building Royal Liverpool University Hospital Speke Hall Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse St. George's Hall Tate Liverpool Tower Buildings Victoria Building Walker Art Gallery White Star Building World Museum Liverpool Places of worship All Saints' Church Al-Rahma Mosque Church of All Hallows Church of St Agnes and St Pancras German Church Greek Orthodox Church of St Nicholas Gustav Adolfus Kyrka Liverpool Cathedral Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Norwegian Fishermans' Church Old Christ Church The Oratory Princes Road Synagogue St George's Church Saint John the Baptist's Church St Luke's Church St Luke's Church, Walton St Michael's Church Toxteth Unitarian Chapel Ullet Road Unitarian Church Welsh Presbyterian Church Transportation James Street station Kingsway Tunnel Liverpool Central station Liverpool John Lennon Airport Liverpool Lime Street station Liverpool South Parkway station Mersey Railway Tunnel Moorfields station Queensway Tunnel Shopping complexes Clayton Square Shopping Centre Lewis's Liverpool ONE Metquarter New Mersey Shopping Park St. John's Shopping Centre Sports venues and arenas Anfield Echo Arena Goodison Park Liverpool Cricket Club O2 Academy Liverpool Wavertree Athletics Centre Sculptures and monuments Nelson Monument Steble Fountain Superlambanana Titanic Memorial Wellington's Column Lists Listed buildings in Liverpool List of tallest buildings and structures in Liverpool Category  Commons v t e Fenway Sports Group Based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA Owners John W. Henry · Tom Werner Sports teams Boston Red Sox (MLB) · Liverpool F.C. (Premier League) · Roush Fenway Racing† (NASCAR) (50%) · Salem Red Sox† (Carolina League) Sports venues Anfield · Fenway Park · Sports channels New England Sports Network (80%) † - These properties are owned by NESV through the Fenway Sports Group subsidiary. All other listed properties are directly owned by NESV.

Steven Gerrard

Gerrard playing for Liverpool
Personal information
Full name	Steven George Gerrard[1]
Date of birth	(1980-05-30) 30 May 1980 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth	Whiston, England
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Liverpool
Number	8
Youth career
1987–1998	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–	Liverpool	405	(89)
National team‡
1999	England U21	4	(1)
2000–	England[3]	91	(19)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:00, 25 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:00, 26 May 2012 (UTC)

Steven George Gerrard MBE ( /ˈdʒɛrɑrd/; born 30 May 1980) is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 91 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfield role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger.^[4]

Gerrard, who has spent his entire career at Anfield, made his début in 1998 and cemented his place in the first team in 2000, succeeding Sami Hyypiä as team captain in 2003. His honours include two FA Cups, three League Cups, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Cup, and two Super Cups. In 2005, Gerrard came third in voting for the Ballon d'Or.

Gerrard made his international debut in 2000 and has represented England at the Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, as well as the 2006 World Cup where he was the team's top goalscorer with two goals. Gerrard first captained his country at the 2010 World Cup in the absence of regular captain Rio Ferdinand, who missed the tournament through injury.^[5] He was named again as England captain for the Euro 2012.

Gerrard is widely regarded as one of the greatest English footballers ever. Gerrard came second only to Kenny Dalglish in the "100 Players Who Shook The Kop" - a Liverpool fan poll.^[6] Zinedine Zidane said in 2009 that he considered Gerrard one of the best footballers in the world.^[7] In 2010, The Guardian named Gerrard to their World XI team, which compiled the greatest footballers of all time onto one squad.

Early life[link]

Born in Whiston, Merseyside,^[1] Gerrard started out playing for hometown team Whiston Juniors, where he was noticed by Liverpool scouts. He joined the Reds' youth academy at the age of nine.^[8] Gerrard then had trials with various clubs at fourteen, but his success wasn't immediate — Gerrard never made it into the England Schoolboys team. Gerrard's trials included Manchester United, which he claimed in his 2006 autobiography was "to pressure Liverpool into giving me a YTS contract."^[9] He signed his first professional contract with Liverpool on 5 November 1997.^[9]

Liverpool career[link]

Beginnings (1998-2003)[link]

Gerrard made his Liverpool first-team debut on 29 November 1998 in a match against Blackburn Rovers as a last minute substitute for Vegard Heggem.^[10] He made thirteen appearances in his debut season, filling in the midfield position for injured captain Jamie Redknapp^[8] and playing on the right wing, but he scarcely contributed in the short on-pitch time he received, due to nervousness affecting his play.^[11] Gerrard recalled in a November 2008 interview with The Guardian, "I was out of position and out of my depth." The Liverpool hierarchy nonetheless remained convinced that he would improve.^[11] Gerrard saw himself as a defensive player primarily, looking to make key tackles rather than push the team forward.^[10]

Gerrard partnered Redknapp in central midfield for the 1999–00 season. After starting the derby match against Everton on the bench, he replaced Robbie Fowler in the second half but received his first career red card for a late foul on Everton's Kevin Campbell.^[12] Later that season, Gerrard scored his first senior goal in a 4–1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.^[13] However, he began to suffer from nagging back problems, which sports consultant Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt later diagnosed as a result of accelerated growth, coupled with excessive playing, during his teenage years.^[9] He was then beset by groin injuries that required four separate operations.^[9]

Gerrard shooting for Liverpool

In 2000–01, he made fifty starts in all competitions and scored ten goals as Liverpool won the League Cup, FA Cup, and the 2001 UEFA Cup.

Struggles and uncertainty (2003-2004)[link]

Gerrard replaced Sami Hyypiä as Liverpool captain in October 2003, as manager Gérard Houllier said that he recognised Gerrard had demonstrated leadership qualities early on, but needed to mature.^[14] He chose to extend his contract at the club, signing a new four-year deal.^[15]

Houllier quit after a trophyless 2003–04 campaign, and Gerrard was linked with a move to Chelsea during the offseason. He admitted he was not "happy with the progress Liverpool has made", and that "for the first time in my career I've thought about the possibility of moving on."^[16] In the end, Gerrard turned down a £20 million offer from Chelsea to stay with Liverpool and new coach Rafael Benítez.^[17]

Breakthrough and trophies (2004-2007)[link]

Liverpool were wracked with injury early in the 2004–05 season, and a foot injury suffered in a September league match against Manchester United shelved Gerrard until late November. He returned to score in the last five minutes of a Champions League group stage match against Olympiacos to secure Liverpool's advancement to the knockout round.^[18] He claimed that this was his most important, if not his best, goal for Liverpool to date.^[19] However, Gerrard netted an own goal during the 2005 League Cup final on 27 February, which proved decisive in Liverpool's 3–2 loss to Chelsea.^[20]

During a six-minute stretch in the second half of the 2005 Champions League final against A.C. Milan, Liverpool came back from a three-goal deficit to tie the match at 3–3 after extra time, with Gerrard scoring one of the goals. Liverpool's third goal was gained as a penalty from a foul awarded to Liverpool when Gennaro Gattuso fouled Gerrard in Milan's penalty box. Gerrard did not participate in the penalty shootout, which Liverpool won 3–2 as they claimed their first Champions League trophy in twenty years,^[21] though he was named the Man of the Match, and later received the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award.^[22]

In regards to his contract issues with Liverpool, Gerrard told the press after the final, "How can I leave after a night like this?"^[23] But negotiations soon stalled and on 5 July 2005, after Liverpool turned down another lucrative offer from Chelsea, Gerrard rejected a club-record £100,000-a-week offer. Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry conceded the club had lost Gerrard, saying, "Now we have to move on. We have done our best, but he has made it clear he wants to go and I think it looks pretty final."^[24] The next day, Gerrard signed a new four-year deal as Parry blamed the earlier breakdown of talks on miscommunication between the two sides.^[25][26]

Gerrard during the 2006–07 season

Gerrard scored 23 goals in 53 appearances in 2005–06, and in April became the first Liverpool player since John Barnes in 1988 to be voted the PFA Player of the Year.^[27] He scored twice in the 2006 FA Cup final against West Ham United, including an equalizer that sent the match into extra time, and Liverpool won their second consecutive major trophy on penalties. The goals made him the only player to have scored in the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup and Champions League finals.^[28] Gerrard netted a penalty as Liverpool eliminated league rival Chelsea in the 2006–07 Champions League semi-finals to return to their second final in three seasons, which they lost 2–1 to Milan.^[29][30]

Gerrard suffered a hairline toe fracture in an August 2007 Champions League qualifier against Toulouse F.C.,^[31] but returned four days later to play the entirety of a 1–1 league draw against Chelsea.^[32] On 28 October 2007, Gerrard played his 400th game for Liverpool in a league match against Arsenal, in which he scored.^[33][34] He scored in all but one of Liverpool's domestic and European matches during the month of November, and after scoring the only goal in a Champions League away tie against Olympique de Marseille on 11 December, he became the first Liverpool player since John Aldridge in 1989 to score in seven consecutive games in all competitions.^[35]

Continued success and stardom (2007-)[link]

Gerrard made his 300th Premier League appearance on 13 April 2008 in a match against Blackburn Rovers, scoring the opening goal,^[36][37] and finished the season with twenty-one goals in all competitions, surpassing his total from the 2006–07 season. Gerrard was selected for the PFA Team of the Year and he was also one of the nominees or the PFA Player of the Year, alongside teammate Fernando Torres.^[38][39]

Gerrard needed to undergo groin surgery at the beginning of the 2008–09 season, but the problem was not serious and he quickly returned to training.^[40] He scored what appeared to be his hundredth career Liverpool goal against Stoke City on 20 September, but it was disallowed after Dirk Kuyt was ruled offside.^[41] He achieved the milestone eleven days later in a 3–1 Champions League group stage win over PSV.^[42]

He made his 100th appearance in European club competition for Liverpool on 10 March 2009 against Real Madrid and scored twice in a 4–0 win.^[43] Four days after the impressive victory over Real, Gerrard would score at Old Trafford for the first time from the penalty spot, putting Liverpool ahead on their way to a 4–1 victory over Manchester United.^[44] Following these results, three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane hailed the Liverpool skipper, saying "Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and Ronaldo but yes, I think he might be."^[45] On 22 March 2009, Gerrard scored his first ever hat-trick in the Premier League, against Aston Villa, in a 5–0 victory.^[46] On 13 May 2009, Gerrard was named as the 2009 Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, becoming the first Liverpool player to win the award in nineteen years. Gerrard had pipped Manchester United duo Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney in the poll voted for by journalists, beating Ryan Giggs by just 10 votes. Upon receiving the award, he was quoted as saying "I'm delighted but I'm a little bit surprised", he commented. "When you look at the quality of the players there are in this league, it's a great privilege to win this kind of award."^[47] He ended the 2009–10 season with a total of 12 goals and 9 assists from 46 matches.

Following the 2009–10 season, Rafael Benítez departed Liverpool after six years and was succeeded as manager by Roy Hodgson, who quickly assured fans that Gerrard would not be sold.[2] To further eliminate any speculation surrounding his future at the club, Gerrard made a statement emphasising his excitement at the coming season with Liverpool and praising the signing of Joe Cole.^[48] Gerrard soon played his first pre-season match of the 2010–11 season against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 1 August 2010 alongside new signing Joe Cole.^[49]