Confirming rumours that had been swirling on social media for a while, former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard on Thursday announced his retirement from all forms of football.
The 36-year-old ex-midfielder had 17 seasons with English giants Liverpool before spending the last two seasons with Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy.
Gerrard had confirmed that he would not be renewing his contract with the American club. This made many to speculate that perhaps a managerial role was imminent.
And despite talks not proving fruitful with League One Side MK Dons, the midfield maestro has decided to call time on a glittering career.
Adored by Liverpool fans for rejecting big-money moves to Real Madrid and Chelsea, the Liverpudlian thrice lifted the League Cup and won the FA Cup twice.
However, it’s his European exploits that are still talked about fondly, winning the UEFA Cup once before lifting the Champions League trophy in a famous night in Istanbul.
Down 3-0 to AC Milan at half-time, Gerrard grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck to inspire an unbelievable comeback to level the tie 3-3 in 90 minutes before going on to lift the trophy after winning a penalty shootout.
Loved by his fans and hated by the rest for scoring goals that redefined the word golazos, more than a few of the Premier League's best goals were scored by his feared right-boot.
His England record was as most players of his generation, bereft of any major trophy and to add insult to injury, he was captain when the Three Lions crashed at the group-stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He remains the fourth-most capped English player of all time, garnering 114 appearances from 2000 to 2014, scoring 21 goals in the process.
His personal tally for Liverpool is astounding, with 504 appearances and 120 goals telling a tale in itself. Only Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) and Jamie Carragher (Liverpool) have crossed the 500-cap mark in the Premier League era.
Failings with England and an inability to win a domestic title with Liverpool are probably the only regrets of Stevie G’s, who ranks among the all-time greats for both England and Liverpool.
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