Happy birthday Steven Gerrard

It may not have been the most fitting end to his Anfield career, but on this day the last 10 months can be forgotten and the club and fans can simply celebrate Gerrard’s birthday and pay tribute to the man that, for so long, has been the soul of Liverpool Football Club.

Gerrard made his debut for Liverpool 1998, making only 13 appearances in his first season. But he didn’t look back from there, going on to be named club captain barely 5 years later.

The period between 2004 and 2010 will undoubtedly be remembered as the time that Gerrard was at his absolute peak, with Rafa Benitez taking advantage of Gerrard’s supreme athleticism and all-round game to make him the fulcrum of a Liverpool side that won a Champions League, FA Cup, and reached a number of other finals, whilst coming close to winning the Premier League with Gerrard leading from the front, as usual.

While Gerrard’s career at Anfield ended without a Premier League title, he has won every other trophy possible and will head off to the US with few regrets, other than missing out on the league and the manner in which his final season played out at the club.

As former Benitez assistant, Paco Ayesteran, told the Liverpool ECHO when speaking about Gerrard: “I just wish Stevie (and Carra) were like racing cars. With players like that you want to just change a few parts so their careers could continue running.”

And how Liverpool fans and the club wish that was the case, but having turned 35 today, Gerrard has made the right decision to take his career stateside and we can only wish him well, and happy birthday. All the best, Stevie!