Steven Gerrard
Steven George Gerrard, MBE (IPA: [ˈd''ɛrɑ:d]; born 30 May 1980) is an English footballer who plays for English Premier League club Liverpool F.C. and the England national team. He is usually employed in the box-to-box midfield role, although he has often been deployed as a right-sided midfielder and occasionally as a second striker.
Gerrard, who has spent his entire career at Anfield, made his debut in 1998 and cemented his place in the first team in the 2000-01 season, succeeding Sami Hyypiä as Liverpool team captain in 2003. His honours include a pair of FA Cups and two Football League Cup wins, as well as the UEFA Cup in 2001 and the UEFA Champions League in 2005, following Liverpool's comeback in the final.
Gerrard made his international debut in 2000, and represented England in the UEFA European Championships in 2000 and 2004 as well as the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where he was the team's top goalscorer.
Gerrard made his Liverpool first-team debut on 29 November 1998 in a match against Blackburn Rovers as a second-half substitute for Vegard Heggem, and his first start came in a UEFA Cup match against Celta Vigo.[4] He made thirteen overall appearances as an injury substitute for incumbent Jamie Redknapp.[2]
Gerrard partnered Redknapp in central midfield for the 1999-00 season. After starting the derby match against Everton F.C. 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.[5] Later that season, Gerrard scored his first senior goal in a 4''"1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.[2] However, he began to suffer from nagging back problems, which sports consultant Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfarth later diagnosed as a result of accelerated growth, coupled with excessive playing, during his teenage years.[3] He was then beset by groin injuries that required four separate operations.[3]
In 2000-01, he made fifty starts in all competitions and scored ten goals as...
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