The announcement of Steven Gerrard retiring to America sent shockwaves through English football. A man who is Liverpool through and through leaving Anfield? It’s the news every Red on Merseyside has dreaded, and every Red in Manchester has lapped up.
But it’s for exactly the same reason – because he’s a true great of the game. Throughout the 21st Century we’ve seen some exceptional central midfielders take to the field across the globe, single-handedly inspiring trophies and pulling more strings than a puppeteer.
We take a look at Gerrard and a selection of other top pros who have marshaled the world’s best midfields.
Andrea Pirlo
Watch Andrea Pirlo and you cannot help but gawp. He makes stadiums gasp in a way normally exclusive to orgasm and has consistently been one of the best players on the planet for the past 15 years. His vision and range of passing is simply stunning and helped guide Milan to two Champions League titles and both Milan and Juventus to multiple Serie A championships.
The World Cup winner has aged like a fine wine – incidentally one of his passions – and despite being 35 he is still to this day one of the most feared midfielders in world soccer.
Paul Scholes
When Zinedine Zidane calls you ‘the complete footballer’ you know you’re pretty special. Throughout his career Paul Scholes was a genius. He made the game look easy – well, apart from tackling – and won 25 titles during his glittering career at Old Trafford, being an instrumental figure in each and every one.
He was a centre forwards dream with the likes of Van Nistelrooy, Cole, Sheringham, Rooney all prospering from the Ginger Prince’s service in a United midfield that has been left with a Paul Scholes shaped hole.
Xavi
At the height of his powers Barcelona were virtually unbeatable, the greatest club side of all time. That filtered into the national side, where Spain won three major tournaments in a row. Xavi was perhaps their greatest inspiration.
The 34-year-old Barcelona native is widely renowned as one of the best playmakers of all time, being the lynchpin behind the likes of Messi, Henry, Ronaldinho, and the cluster of other stars who have lit up the Nou Camp.
Andres Iniesta
And the same can be said about his teammate Andres Iniesta. Alongside Xavi he has developed into a mesmerizing talent, complimenting his fellow Spaniard’s style and setting the pace and tempo week in week out for his side.
Fernando Torres once said, “When he has the ball, it’s like everything else stops – like the camera going in slow motion. I’ve been playing with him since we were 15 and I have never, ever seen him play badly.”
We’ve been watching him for the last 10, and that rings completely true.
Steven Gerrard
And then there’s Steven Gerrard. The man who has sat in the heart of Liverpool’s midfield for over 15 years has risen to become one of the most iconic figures on Merseyside with his whole-hearted displays that have seen him lift the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup, and League Cup all in sides which are far from comparable with the likes of Barcelona or Manchester United.
Last season the side came extremely close to their first title, but have gone off the boil with the loss of Suarez, but Gerrard for sure will want to bow out on a high and finish in the top four. It’ll be a tough ask, with the likes of 888sport placing them behind both Southampton and Tottenham to secure Champions League football.
But if there’s one quality Stevie G does have, is inspirational leadership. A quality that’ll not only be lost on Liverpool, but the entire Premier League.