My Story | Steven Gerrard

There are some players that each and every football fan show respect. Steven Gerrard is one of these characters. I have recently read his biography: My Story. Previously I read Ronaldo’s and İbrahimovic’s biographies and compared to these stars’ biographies, I couldn’t find that much interesting stories. The way Steven tells his story is similar to the way he plays his football: well-disciplined and I think this made his book “standard”. Besides these negative comments, Steven has still things to share and we can benefit from his experiences. Below you will see my quotes from his biography: My Story, by Steven Gerrard.  

Steven Gerrard - legendary captain of Liverpool and England - tells the story of the highs and lows of a twenty-year career at the top of English and world football.

As the only player ever to have scored in a FA cup final, a league cup final, a UEFA cup final and a champion's league final, Steven Gerrard is an inspiration to fans and footballers alike. After joining his beloved Liverpool at the age of eight, he spent the next 28 years, and over 700 games, devoted to this one club. Perhaps the last player of his calibre that we will see display such extraordinary longevity and commitment, his loyalty ensures he will be remembered not only as one of the all-time Anfield greats but one of England's finest footballers.

In My Story Gerrard dissects his full playing career. He examines the defining games such as the 2005 Champion's League Final when he inspired 'The Miracle of Istanbul' as Liverpool came back from 3-0 down against AC Milan to become champions of Europe. He talks about his 114 caps for England, including World Cup and European Championship campaigns, asking what went right - and wrong.

In My Story Gerrard dissects his full playing career. He examines the defining games such as the 2005 Champion's League Final when he inspired 'The Miracle of Istanbul' as Liverpool came back from 3-0 down against AC Milan to become champions of Europe. He talks about his 114 caps for England, including World Cup and European Championship campaigns, asking what went right - and wrong.

He writes candidly of those he's played with and competed against, from Luis Suárez to Jose Mourinho, his experiences under Brendan Rodgers and Roy Hodgson. He also has an incredible and rare personal story, telling us of the extraordinary ups and downs of staying loyal to one club for your entire career.

Explosive and searingly honest, Steven Gerrard's My Story is the last word from an era-defining player.

Prologue: Slipping Away

I had also given absolutely everything of myself to Liverpool FC: in training, in almost 700 games, off the pitch, around the squad and as part of the club, the community and the city. I could not have done any more. I had squeezed out every last ounce of ambition and desire and hope inside me. In the end, it had not been quite enough to help us win the title everyone at Liverpool craved.

The Liverpool anthem reminds you to hold your head up high when you walk through a storm. It reminds you not to be afraid of the dark. It reminds you to walk on through the wind and the rain, though your dreams be tossed and blown, and to walk on with hope in your heart.

You’ll Never Walk Alone

The Stand-Off

When your best player is in scorching form and scoring most weeks, then the biggest clubs in Europe are going to be circling and watching. And when you’re not in the Champions League, and your star player is performing that well, you are vulnerable. It’s not easy to fend off rivals willing to spend massive money to take players like Torres and Suárez away from us.

I felt the weight of my role. It would be wrong to call it a burden because, most of the time, it felt like an honour.

Whenever I walked into Melwood I saw the quote from Bill Shankly, our greatest manager, carved into the wall.

Above all, I would like to be remembered as a man who was selfless, who strove and worried so that others could share the glory, and who built up a family of people who could hold their heads up high and say, ‘We are Liverpool’.

Of course if a player less gifted and important to us as a team had behaved so badly it’s unlikely we would have been as supportive. I am not proud to admit that – but the reality of professional football is that clubs are more ready to help the players who can help them most. It can be a harsh business.

Changing Seasons

I can say now that there are two major reasons why I didn’t win at least one title with Liverpool: Roman Abramovich at Chelsea and Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City.

I liked what Brendan once said to me before a team-building night out: ‘You come and you show your face and you get involved for a while – to show them you’re the leader of the group. But you have to give young lads their own space as well and so come out of it pretty early on. Head back home to Alex and the girls.’

Qualifications and Positions

Big players come alive in big games.

That’s one of the best parts of being captain – taking away the worry from other people.

Hard Facts

You can play for Liverpool, or become manager, but it’s only a temporary privilege. The club will be here for ever. It’s always going to have top players and top managers. There will be highs and lows along the way but you’re only in your position for a certain amount of time. You’ve got to make the most of it while you’re here. Some players don’t.

If your mates want to go to a nightclub, let them. By the time you’ve finished your career you can buy a club of your own.

For Ronaldo's biography:

My Highlightz: Ronaldo - A Biography of a Boy Who Rose Out of Poverty

For Ibrahimovic's biography:

My Highlightz: I am Zlatan