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Steven Gerrard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Steven Gerrard
SGerrard.JPG
Gerrard at the 2012 European Championship
Personal information
Full name Steven George Gerrard[1]
Date of birth 30 May 1980 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth Whiston, Merseyside, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Liverpool
Number 8
Youth career
1987–1998 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1998– Liverpool 411 (91)
National team‡
1999–2000 England U21 4 (1)
2000– England 98 (19)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:35, 23 September 2012 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:00, 11 September 2012 (UTC)

Steven George Gerrard MBE (born 30 May 1980) is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool and theEngland national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfield role, but he has also been used as a second striker, holding midfielder and right winger.[3]

Gerrard, who has spent his entire career at Anfield, made his début in 1998 and cemented his place in the first team in 2000, succeeding Sami Hyypiä as team captain in 2003. His honours include two FA Cups, three League Cups, two Community Shields, one Champions League, oneUEFA Cup, and two Super Cups.

Gerrard made his international debut in 2000, and has since represented England at the 2000 and 2004 European Championships, as well as the2006 World Cup – where he was the team’s top goalscorer with two goals – and the 2010 World Cup, where he first captained his country in the absence of regular captain Rio Ferdinand, who missed the tournament through injury.[4] He was named as the permanent England captain shortly before the 2012 European Championship, where he was named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.[5]

Gerrard is widely regarded as one of the greatest English footballers ever, as well as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Gerrard came second only to Kenny Dalglish in the “100 Players Who Shook The Kop” – a Liverpool fan poll.[6] Zinedine Zidane said in 2009 that he considered Gerrard one of the best footballers in the world.[7] In 2005, Gerrard was honoured as the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and won the Ballon d’Or Bronze Award. Additionally, he has been named to the PFA Team of the Year seven times, the UEFA Team of the Year and FIFA World XI three times, and was named the FWA Footballer of the Year in 2009. In 2010, The Guardian named Gerrard to their World XI team, which compiled the greatest footballers of all time onto one squad. He is, to date, the only footballer ever to have scored a goal in an FA Cup Final, a League Cup Final, a UEFA Cup Final and a Champions League Final.

Contents

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Early life

Born in Whiston, Merseyside,[1] Gerrard started out playing for hometown team Whiston Juniors, where he was noticed by Liverpool scouts. He later joined the Liverpool Academy at the age of nine.[8] Gerrard then had trials with various clubs at fourteen, but his success wasn’t immediate — Gerrard never made it into the England schoolboys’ team. Gerrard’s trials included Manchester United, which he claimed in his 2006 autobiography was “to pressure Liverpool into giving me a YTS contract.”[9] He signed his first professional contract with Liverpool on 5 November 1997.[9]

Liverpool career

Beginnings (1998–2003)

Gerrard made his Liverpool first-team debut on 29 November 1998 in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers as a last-minute substitute for Vegard Heggem.[10] He made thirteen appearances in his debut season, filling in for injured captain Jamie Redknapp in centre-midfield.[8] He also occasionally played on the right wing, but he scarcely contributed in the short on-pitch time he received, due to nervousness affecting his play.[11] Gerrard recalled in a November 2008 interview with The Guardian, “I was out of position and out of my depth.” The Liverpool hierarchy nonetheless remained convinced that he would improve.[11] Gerrard saw himself as a defensive player primarily, looking to make key tackles rather than push the team forward.[10]

Gerrard began to regularly partner Redknapp in central midfield for the 1999-2000 season. After starting the derby against Everton 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 shortly afterwards.[12] Later that season, Gerrard scored his first senior goal in a 4–1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.[13] However, he began to suffer from nagging back problems, which sports consultant Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt later diagnosed as a result of accelerated growth, coupled with excessive playing, during his teenage years.[9] He was then beset by groin injuries that required four separate operations.[9]

Gerrard shooting for Liverpool

He went on to recover from this, and in the 2000–01 season made fifty starts in all competitions and scored ten goals as he won his first major honours with Liverpool – the FA Cup, League Cup, and the UEFA Cup. In the following season, he would go on to win both the FA Charity Shield and UEFA Super Cup.

Struggles and uncertainty (2003–2004)

After a year as Liverpool vice-captain, Gerrard replaced Sami Hyypiä as Liverpool captain in October 2003, as manager Gérard Houllier said that he recognised Gerrard had demonstrated leadership qualities early on, but needed to mature.[14] He chose to extend his contract at the club, signing a new four-year deal.[15]

Houllier resigned as Liverpool manager after a trophyless 2003–04 campaign, and Gerrard was linked with a move to Chelsea during the off-season. He admitted he was not “happy with the progress Liverpool has made”, and that “for the first time in my career I’ve thought about the possibility of moving on.”[16] In the end, Gerrard turned down a £20 million offer from Chelsea to stay with Liverpool and new coach Rafael Benítez.[17]

Breakthrough and trophies (2004–2007)

Liverpool were wracked with injury early in the 2004–05 season, and a foot injury suffered in a September league match against Manchester United shelved Gerrard until late November. He returned to score in the last five minutes of a Champions League group stage match against Olympiacos to secure Liverpool’s advancement to the knockout round.[18] He claimed that this was his most important, if not his best, goal for Liverpool to date.[19] However, Gerrard netted an own goal during the 2005 League Cup final on 27 February, which proved decisive in Liverpool’s 3–2 loss to Chelsea.[20]

During a six-minute stretch in the second half of the 2005 Champions League final against A.C. Milan, Liverpool came back from a three-goal deficit to tie the match at 3–3 after extra time, with Gerrard scoring one of the goals. Liverpool’s third goal was gained as a penalty from a foul awarded to Liverpool when Gennaro Gattuso fouled Gerrard in Milan’s penalty box. Gerrard did not participate in the penalty shootout, which Liverpool won 3–2 as they claimed their first Champions League trophy in twenty years,[21] though he was named the Man of the Match, and later received the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award.[22]

In regards to his contract issues with Liverpool, Gerrard told the press after the final, “How can I leave after a night like this?”[23] But negotiations soon stalled and on 5 July 2005, after Liverpool turned down another lucrative offer from Chelsea, Gerrard rejected a club-record £100,000-a-week offer. Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry conceded the club had lost Gerrard, saying, “Now we have to move on. We have done our best, but he has made it clear he wants to go and I think it looks pretty final.”[24] The next day, Gerrard signed a new four-year deal as Parry blamed the earlier breakdown of talks on miscommunication between the two sides.[25][26]

Gerrard scored 23 goals in 53 appearances in 2005–06, and in April became the first Liverpool player since John Barnes in 1988 to be voted the PFA Player of the Year.[27] He scored twice in the2006 FA Cup Final against West Ham United, including an equalizer that sent the match into extra time, and Liverpool won their second consecutive major trophy on penalties. The goals made him the only player to have scored in the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup and Champions League finals.[28] Gerrard netted a penalty as Liverpool eliminated league rival Chelsea in the 2006–07 Champions League semi-finals to return to their second final in three seasons, which they lost 2–1 to Milan.[29][30]

Gerrard suffered a hairline toe fracture in an August 2007 Champions League qualifier against Toulouse,[31] but returned four days later to play the entirety of a 1–1 league draw against Chelsea.[32] On 28 October 2007, Gerrard played his 400th game for Liverpool in a league match against Arsenal, in which he scored.[33][34] He scored in all but one of Liverpool’s domestic and European matches during the month of November, and after scoring the only goal in a Champions League away tie against Olympique de Marseille on 11 December, he became the first Liverpool player since John Aldridge in 1989 to score in seven consecutive games in all competitions.[35]

Continued success and stardom (2007–)

Gerrard after scoring a hat-trick in theMerseyside Derby

Gerrard made his 300th Premier League appearance on 13 April 2008 in a match against Blackburn Rovers, scoring the opening goal,[36][37] and finished the season with twenty-one goals in all competitions, surpassing his total from the 2006–07 season. Gerrard was selected for the PFA Team of the Year and he was also one of the nominees or the PFA Player of the Year, alongside teammate Fernando Torres.[38][39]

Gerrard needed to undergo groin surgery at the beginning of the 2008–09 season, but the problem was not serious and he quickly returned to training.[40] He scored what appeared to be his hundredth career Liverpool goal against Stoke City on 20 September, but it was disallowed after Dirk Kuyt was ruled offside.[41] He achieved the milestone eleven days later in a 3–1 Champions League group stage win over PSV.[42]

He made his 100th appearance in European club competition for Liverpool on 10 March 2009 against Real Madrid and scored twice in a 4–0 win.[43]Four days after the impressive victory over Real, Gerrard would score at Old Trafford for the first time from the penalty spot, putting Liverpool ahead on their way to a 4–1 victory over Manchester United.[44] Following these results, three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane hailed the Liverpool skipper, saying “Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but yes, I think he might be.”[45] On 22 March 2009, Gerrard scored his first ever hat-trick in the Premier League, against Aston Villa, in a 5–0 victory.[46]

On 13 May 2009, Gerrard was named as the 2009 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, becoming the first Liverpool player to win the award in nineteen years. Gerrard had pipped Manchester United duo Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney in the poll voted for by journalists, beating Ryan Giggs by just 10 votes. Upon receiving the award, he was quoted as saying “I’m delighted but I’m a little bit surprised”, he commented. “When you look at the quality of the players there are in this league, it’s a great privilege to win this kind of award.”[47] He ended the 2009–10 seasonwith a total of 12 goals and 9 assists from 46 matches.

Following the 2009–10 season, Rafael Benítez departed Liverpool after six years and was succeeded as manager by Roy Hodgson, who quickly assured fans that Gerrard would not be sold.[2]To further eliminate any speculation surrounding his future at the club, Gerrard made a statement emphasising his excitement at the coming season with Liverpool and praising the signing of Joe Cole.[48] Gerrard soon played his first pre-season match of the 2010–11 season against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 1 August 2010 alongside new signing Joe Cole.[49]

Gerrard before Jamie Carragher’s testimonial

Gerrard scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season from the penalty spot in a Europa League qualifier against Macedonian side FK Rabotnički on 5 August 2010.[50]

His next two goals came on 19 September at Old Trafford in a 3–2 loss against Manchester United; he scored from a penalty kick in the 64th minute and a free-kick 6 minutes later to level the game at 2–2.[51] He followed this up one week later with the second equaliser in a 2–2 home draw with Sunderland.[52] Eleven days later, Gerrard came off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick in a 3–1 win over Napoli in the UEFA Europa League.[53]

Gerrard missed the start of the 2011–2012 season due to groin injury, which had kept him out of action for large parts of the 2010–2011 season as well.[54]Gerrard would eventually make his first start for Liverpool squad in an October match at Anfield against fierce rivals Manchester United. Gerrard scored Liverpool’s only goal in the match, from a direct free kick, which ended in a 1–1 draw.

On 29 October, Gerrard underwent a treatment to clear an infection in his right ankle, which was placed in a protective plaster cast. He was forced to miss Liverpool’s league match against West Bromwich that day and was ruled out for at least the following week’s match against Swansea City the following week and England’s friendly matches against Sweden and Spain the week after.[55] After a prolonged ankle injury recuperation, Gerrard finally returned to regular first team action in the match against Blackburn Rovers, coming off the bench. On 30 December, Gerrard came off the bench against Newcastle United and scored a fine goal.[56]

Gerrard went on to help Liverpool to reach their first cup final in 6 years, and their first at Wembley Stadium in 18 years, as Liverpool beat Manchester City 3–2 on aggregate in the semi-finals. Gerrard scored a penalty in both legs to send Liverpool to the Carling Cup Final against Cardiff City on 26 February 2012, which Liverpool won on penalties.[57][58][59] On his 400th Premier League appearance for Liverpool, Gerrard scored a hat-trick to give Liverpool a 3–0 victory over rivals Everton in the Merseyside Derby on 13 March 2012.[60] On 18 August 2012, Gerrard played his 250th match as Liverpool captain.[61] He scored his first Premier League goal of the season on 23 September, opening the scoring in a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United.[62] His second goal came in the following game, scoring in a 5-2 win against Norwich City at Carrow Road.[63]

International career

Gerrard playing alongside
Franck Ribéry at Euro 2012

Gerrard made his international debut against Ukraine on 31 May 2000.[64] That summer, he was called up for Euro 2000, making only one appearance as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Germany before England were eliminated in the group stage.[65][66] Gerrard scored his first international goal in the famous 5–1 victory over Germany in a 2002 World Cup qualifier in September 2001, and while England qualified, Gerrard was forced to pull out of the squad due to his ongoing groin problems after pulling up in Liverpool’s final match of the season against Ipswich.[67]

Gerrard scored his second goal for the national team in the Euro 2004 qualifier against Macedonia on 16 October 2002 in a 2-2 draw, his third goal was the opener in a 2-1 win over Serbia and Montenegro on 3 June 2013.[68] He was a regular starter in Euro 2004, scoring once to make it 3-0 in England’s win over Switzerland in the second Group game of the tournament but England would fortunately go onto be eliminated by the tournament hostsPortugal in the quarter-finals losing 6-5 on penalties in a match when Gerrard was substituted off in the 81st minute for Owen Hargreaves.[69]

He participated in his first World Cup in 2006 and scored two goals, both in the group stage, against Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden, although his spot kick was one of three saved by goalkeeper Ricardo as England again bowed out to Portugal in the quarter-finals on penalties.[70] He was England’s top scorer in the tournament.

Gerrard was made vice-captain of the England team by coach Steve McClaren,[71] and while he filled in for John Terry as captain, England suffered back-to-back losses to Russia and Croatia that ended their Euro 2008 qualifying hopes.[72] After new coach Fabio Capello took over the team in early 2008, Gerrard was given a trial run as captain but Capello settled on Terry for the role.[73][74]Gerrard was subsequently replaced as England vice-captain by Rio Ferdinand.[75]

Gerrard helped England qualify for the 2010 World Cup, scoring two goals in England’s 5–1 win over Croatia.[76] John Terry was replaced by Rio Ferdinand as captain in 2010, following revelations about the former’s private life,[77] and Gerrard subsequently became vice-captain again. When the England team left for the 2010 World Cup, Gerrard was the most experienced player in the squad with 80 caps. During preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, however, Rio Ferdinand was injured, meaning that Gerrard was appointed by Capello as captain for the tournament.[4] After the tournament Gerrard, part of a group of England players dubbed the “Golden Generation“, confirmed that he would continue to be available for selection, despite suggestions from Capello that he would seek to re-build the team.[78]

Captain

In August 2010, Gerrard scored twice in a friendly match against Hungary and helped England to a 2–1 win.[79] Due to Ferdinand’s continued absence through injury, Gerrard retained the captaincy for the opening match of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign against Bulgaria, which England won 4–0. He was later named permanent captain by new coach Roy Hodgson, in time for the Euro 2012. This was the first time that he was named directly the captain of England and not in place of an injured or unavailable captain.[80] He provided three assists and won two man of the match awards to help England finish top of their group in the qualifying round, and go through to the quarter-finals. Despite their exit on penalties to Italy, Gerrard was later the only England player to be named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.

International goals

Scores and results list England’s goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1 September 2001 Olympiastadion, Germany  Germany 2–1 5–1 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifying[81]
2 16 October 2002 St Mary’s Stadium, England  Macedonia 2–2 2–2 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying[82]
3 3 June 2003 Walkers Stadium, England  Serbia and Montenegro 1–0 2–1 Friendly[83]
4 17 June 2004 Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Portugal  Switzerland 3–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2004[84]
5 4 September 2004 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Austria  Austria 2–0 2–2 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifying[85]
6 30 March 2005 St James’ Park, England  Azerbaijan 1–0 2–0 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifying[86]
7 30 May 2006 Old Trafford, England  Hungary 1–0 3–1 Friendly[87]
8 15 June 2006 Frankenstadion, Germany  Trinidad and Tobago 2–0 2–0 2006 FIFA World Cup[88]
9 20 June 2006 RheinEnergie Stadion, Germany  Sweden 2–1 2–2 2006 FIFA World Cup[89]
10 2 September 2006 Old Trafford, England  Andorra 2–0 5–0 UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying[90]
11 28 March 2007 Olympic Stadium, Spain  Andorra 1–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying[91]
12 2–0
13 28 May 2008 Wembley Stadium, England  United States 2–0 2–0 Friendly[92]
14 15 October 2008 Dinamo Stadium, Belarus  Belarus 1–0 3–1 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying[93]
15 9 September 2009 Wembley Stadium, England  Croatia 2–0 5–1 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
16 4–0
17 12 June 2010 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, South Africa  United States 1–0 1–1 2010 FIFA World Cup
18 11 August 2010 Wembley Stadium, England  Hungary 1–1 2–1 Friendly[94]
19 2–1

Personal life

Gerrard is a practising Catholic.[95] He and his wife, fashion journalist Alex Curran, married in a Catholic[95] ceremony at the Cliveden mansion in Buckinghamshire on 16 June 2007.[96][97] He has an older brother, Paul (not to be confused with former Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard), and his cousin Anthony Gerrard plays for Huddersfield Town. Steven and Alex have three daughters, Lilly-Ella (born 23 February 2004), Lexie (9 May 2006) and Lourdes (born 2 November 2011).[98]

In September 2006, Gerrard published his autobiography, Gerrard: My Autobiography, ghost-written by journalist Henry Winter, which went on to win the Sports Book of the Year honour at theBritish Book Awards.[99]

The autobiography ends with “I play for Jon-Paul.” Gerrard’s cousin, Jon-Paul Gilhooley, was killed in the 1989 Hillsborough Tragedy, when Gerrard was eight. Jon-Paul, who was 10 when he died, was the youngest of the 96 victims of the tragedy.[100]“It was difficult knowing one of your cousins had lost his life”, Gerrard said. “Seeing his family’s reaction drove me on to become the player I am today.”[101]

On 1 October 2007, Gerrard was involved in a low-speed collision in Southport when the car he was driving hit a ten-year-old cyclist, who had shot into the street and inadvertently crossed Gerrard’s path. He later visited the boy in the hospital and presented him with a pair of boots signed by Wayne Rooney, the boy’s favourite player, after which he stayed to sign autographs for other young patients.[102]

Councillors of Knowsley voted to make Gerrard a Freeman of the Borough on 13 December 2007,[103] and two weeks later, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by The Queen in The Queen’s New Year Honours List, for services to sport.[104] He received an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University on 26 July 2008 as recognition for his contribution to sport.[105]

On 29 December 2008, Gerrard was taken into custody outside the Lounge Inn in Southport on suspicion of a section 20 assault.[106] He and two others were later charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray, relating to an incident which left the bar’s disc jockey with a broken tooth and cuts to his forehead.[107][108] The three men were given police to court bailand were required to appear at North Sefton Magistrates’ Court on 23 January 2009,[108] where they all pleaded not guilty.[109] The case was adjourned until 20 March when the assault charge was dropped but Gerrard was required to attend Liverpool Crown Court to face trial for affray.[110] On 3 April, Gerrard pleaded not guilty.[111]

The case went to trial in Liverpool Crown Court. Gerrard’s co-defendants pleaded guilty before the trial but Gerrard maintained his innocence. Gerrard admitted hitting Marcus McGee but claimed it was in self-defence and on 24 July, Gerrard was found not guilty by the jury. Following the verdict, Gerrard said he was looking forward to getting back to playing football and putting the experience behind him.[112]

In 2011 Gerrard appeared in the film Will.

A newly opened hotel located in Indonesia in 2011 was named Stevie G in honour of him by the Liverpool supporting owners.[113]

Career statistics

As of 7 October 2012.
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1998–99 Liverpool Premier League 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 13 0
1999–2000 29 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 31 1
2000–01 33 7 4 1 4 0 9 2 50 10
2001–02 28 3 2 0 0 0 15 1 45 4
2002–03 34 5 2 0 6 2 11 0 54* 7
2003–04 34 4 3 0 2 0 8 2 47 6
2004–05 30 7 0 0 3 2 10 4 43 13
2005–06 32 10 6 4 1 1 12 7 53^ 23^
2006–07 36 7 1 0 1 1 12 3 51* 11
2007–08 34 11 3 3 2 1 13 6 52 21
2008–09 31 16 3 1 0 0 10 7 44 24
2009–10 33 9 2 1 1 0 13 2 49 12
2010–11 21 4 1 0 0 0 2 4 24 8
2011–12 18 5 6 2 4 2 0 0 28 9
2012–13 7 2 0 0 0 0 4 1 11 3
Country England 412 91 35 12 24 9 120 39 595 152
Total 412 91 35 12 24 9 120 39 595 152

* Includes appearance in the FA Community Shield

^ Includes two appearances and one goal in the FIFA Club World Championship

International career statistics

As of 11 September 2012.[114]
England national team
Year Apps Goals
2000 2 0
2001 6 1
2002 5 1
2003 8 1
2004 10 2
2005 8 1
2006 13 4
2007 11 2
2008 7 2
2009 7 2
2010 12 3
2011 0 0
2012 9 0
Total 98 19

Honours

Club

Individual

References

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V

best soccer players in the world

11 Oct

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina & Barcelona)

Lionel Messi was named 2009 World Player of the YearGetty Images

Two times World Player of the Year, Messi is by some distance the best player on the planet. His ability to mesmerize defenders with a mix of skill and pace is unmatched and it appears as though the ball is glued to his feet at times. The Barcelona star is versatile enough to play anywhere across the frontline, but his country Argentina have so far failed to find a way to get the maximum out of this extraordinary talent. Already one of the best soccer play

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal & Real Madrid)

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as Portugal's best playerGetty Images

Outscored Messi in the 2010-11 Spanish domestic season but has less influence on games than the nimble Argentine. Ronaldo, though, is stronger and taller than Messi, and his goals-to-games ratio similar. Since joining Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009, Ronaldo has been a revelation, making the world record outlay of US$131 look less outrageous with every hat-trick. His famous stepover is imitated in parks right across the world.

3. Xavi Hernandez (Spain & Barcelona)

Spain midfielder Xavi HernandezGetty Images

Barcelona’s midfield metronome dictates the tempo of a match with his phenomenal pass completion rate. He works superbly with partner-in-crime Andres Iniesta, the pair undoubtedly responsible for enhancing Messi’s game further with the steady stream of passes with which they provide in the final third. Xavi is now into his 30s, and a chronic Achilles injury notwithstanding, has the potential to continue for several years yet.

4. Andres Iniesta (Spain & Barcelona)

Spain midfielder Andres IniestaGetty Images

Iniesta’s understanding with club-mate Xavi Hernandez borders on the telepathic at times. The short, eye of the needle passing the pair produce can pierce holes in the most stubborn of rearguards. Iniesta is also very modest, never creating problems for the coaches he works under. Scored the winner in the World Cup final against the Netherlands.

5. Wayne Rooney (England & Manchester United)

England will need Wayne Rooney firing on all cylindersGetty Images

If there were question marks over Rooney’s goalscoring abilities, they were well and truly answered in the 2009/10 season. Now that he has added more goals to his game, Rooney is the all-round player. Superb awareness, long-range passing, hold-up play and a never-say-die sprit combine to make a precious asset for club and country.

6. Robin van Persie (Netherlands & Arsenal)

van Persie is a free-kick specialistGetty Images

The Dutchman enjoyed his best ever season in 2011/12, scoring 36 goals in all competitions for Arsenal. Van Persie has blossomed into one of the very best centre forwards in world soccer, his finishing unerring and his touch exquisite. A player at the peak of his powers, he will be hoping that the injuries that plagued him throughout his 20s are now a thing of the past.

7. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast & Chelsea)

Didier Drogba is the record scorer and captain of Ivory CoastGetty Images

For affirmation of Drogba’s striking qualities and all-round play, just ask the Arsenal defense. Season after season they are bullied into submission by this physically imposing specimen, who can head the ball, finish well with either foot, and take scorching free-kicks. The Chelseaman may be prone to histrionics, but at club and international level, there are few who can match him for presence and all-round effectiveness.

8. Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands and Inter Milan)

Wesley Sneijder is one of the main architects for the NetherlandsGetty Images

His move from Real Madrid to Inter Milan in 2009 re-ignited Sniejder’s career. The Dutchman pulls the strings for club and country, his penetrating runs and passes causing no end of problems for opposition defenses. He also has a deadly free-kick, with Inter reaping the reward of this talent soon after his arrival at San Siro.

 

9. David Villa (Spain & Barcelona)

David Villa is Spain's second highest scorerGetty Images

The Barcelona star has an exceptional goalscoring record for La Furia Roja. An effective dribbler, with an intuitive finish, the frontman was long linked with a move away from Valencia before joining Barca for $49 million in May 2010. Research conducted by World Soccer magazine in 2009 established him as statistically the best striker in the game. His movement sets him apart from many others, that ability to shake off defenders and eke out space. The complete striker.

10. Maicon (Brazil & Inter Milan)

Brazil defender MaiconGetty Images

The only defender in this list of best soccer players, not for a long time has there been a right-back capable of having so much influence on a game. The Inter Milan defender’s forceful runs down the right provide a great avenue of attack, not only for him to cross the ball, but for his teammates who can occupy the space vacated by opposition players trying to arrest Maicon’s attacking sorties. He has pace to burn and is a also a solid defender. Keeps the outstanding Barcelona right-back Dani Alves out of the Brazil team.

ers of all time.

LiverpoolFC is formed

11 Oct

1892

Prev 1 of 9 Next

3rd June 1892

When the Football League was founded in 1888, Anfield was one of the League’s original grounds. On September 8th of that year – the very first Saturday of League football – Anfield welcomed as visitors Accrington to play not against the ‘Reds’, but the ‘Blues’ of Everton Football Club.

The blue and white quartered shirts of Everton FC made quite a name for themselves at Anfield winning the League Championship in 1891, but this is to run ahead slightly. Both teams owe their existence to a Reverend Chambers of the then newly constructed and now, totally demolished, church – St Domingo, and to John Houlding – Tory MP and Mayor of Liverpool who ultimately caused Everton FC to leave Anfield and who created Liverpool Football Club.

St Domingo’s football team was a strictly amateur affair created amid the belief that young lads could better be kept on the path of religious well-being through a healthy passion for competitive team games. After only a year or so of enthusiastic play in Stanley Park, they renamed themselves Everton Football Club in honour of the location of their founding church.

The St Domingo’s team met however not at Church, but the Queen’s Head Hotel in Village Street adjacent to “Ye Anciente Everton Toffee House”. From this Everton F.C. gained their curious nickname of “The Toffees”. In adopting the name Everton, the team ensured that they would permanently struggle to be located with confidence by those from outside of the city and lead to Royalty asking “Tell me, from which part of the country is the city of Everton?” nearly a century later.

The fledgling Everton played in a number of locations but settled in a greenfield site between Anfield Road and Walton Breck Road. So was born one of the great names in world football – Anfield. The team prospered and became financially sound with astute guidance from their President Mr John Houlding. John Houlding was a brewer, local council member and later Mayor of Liverpool.

Despite this he has become a largely forgotten figure in the city, although a bronze plaque outside the Directors’ Lounge in Anfield and a fine oil portrait hanging within the Club museum preserve his likeness.

For a man responsible for the development of Everton and the creation of Liverpool Football Club, it is amazing how little he is remembered. There are however a few landmarks in the area where Houlding was known as “King John of Everton”. The very short ‘Houlding Street’ has on it’s corner the ‘Sandon’ pub. This pub was once owned by Houlding and he led many meetings of Everton Football Club from here in the bowls pavilion that existed to the rear. The place was also used as a dressing room by the players for many years. Both Everton and later Liverpool football teams were first photographed in front of this bowls pavilion.

It can be questioned whether Everton would have been one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888 without Houlding’s assistance. He brought Everton to Anfield in 1884. They previously rented a little field in Priory Road, north of Stanley Park, but they were unwelcome because of the noisy crowds on match days.

So Houlding went to his friend and fellow brewer, Mr. Orrell, who owned a place in Anfield Road and conducted the business to get a new home ground. But it was from this point on that criticism of the club President started to grow from some members of the Everton board, building up to a crisis in 1892.
It was not the rent alone that annoyed the board members. Houlding also wanted only his sparkling ales to be sold at the ground, and he of course profited very considerably from this arrangement. However it was still John Houlding that helped the club out when they need money to buy players and rebuild the ground.

The Sandon’s use as dressing room was an arrangement that really only suited Houlding as he again benefited from his players drinking his products. A letter in the Liverpool Echo in January 1892 suggested that Houlding didn’t want the club to move out of the pub.
The writer says: “It’s a disgrace that at a big club such as Everton, players have to walk through hordes of people on match days.”

The conflict on how the club should be managed and conduct its business came to a head in 1889-90. The rent at Anfield went up again. Everton FC paid £100 in 1884. By 1889-90 Houlding was charging them £250. Houlding had many practical and realistic solutions on how they could solve this situation. One was to transform Everton into a plc. On the 15th of September 1891 he chaired a meeting about the issue.

The local press was banned as he predicted trouble ahead. And trouble it was. Houlding suggested that Everton FC should buy Anfield and also some land he owned adjoining the ground. The price seemed high and the members said no. Although with the growing development of football and the club, the land would soon have paid for itself.

In October the same year, the on-going deadlock over this situation resulted in the vast majority of the Board and players of Everton F.C. walking out to build a new ground. Houlding explained why this situation arose in a match programme against Cliftonville in April 1893. He pointed out that he had given Everton a rent free loan until the club started to make money. If the club had gone bust he would have lost it all.

Despite making no profit in this respect, the issue that upset the members at Everton most was his plan to sell Anfield and the land adjoining, with Houlding himself profiting. He felt it was a reasonable reward for the risk he had ventured in the club for nine years. Houlding, as the ambitious businessman he was, saw a great future for the club. He wanted the club to have its own home ground and wanted them to buy land so the club could expand in due course.

Unfortunately most of the Everton FC board members failed to share his forward thinking and lacked confidence. They wanted instead a long term rent deal on all the land, but for this to be acceptable to Houlding, he wanted a rent at a price considered too high for the Club. The members reacted to that by “offering” Houlding less rent. Houlding unsurprisingly refused to accept this stating that he did not want to be dictated: “I cannot understand why a gentleman that has done so much for the club (Everton) and its members should be given such treatment”.

The official split between Houlding and Everton took place on the 12th of March 1892. At a members meeting one of the opponents George Mahon, led the meeting when John Houlding unexpectedly turned up. Mahon stood up to give the club’s President the chair. But surrounded by “enemies” Mr. Houlding said the famous words: “I’m here on a trial, and a criminal never takes the chair”. He then left the club with 18-19 other members.

 
Liverpool F.C. was formed on the 15th of March 1892. It was at John Houlding’s house in Anfield Road that he and his closest friends left from Everton FC, formed a new club. William.E.Barclay, a great football enthusiast, strongly suggested that they should go on with a new name: Liverpool.

 

However, it was not until 3rd June that the name Liverpool Football Club and Athletic Grounds Ltd was formally recognised by the Board of Trade, and the club could start to make history.

Barclay had been the first secretary at Everton when they became a league club in 1888, and so in turn became the first secretary at Liverpool. Bearing in mind Barclay’s suggestion, it was surprising that on 26th of January 1892 Houlding tried to form a ‘new’ Everton: The “Everton Football Club and Athletic Grounds Company plc” was registered in London on that date and as the ‘old’ Everton club was not registered as a plc Houlding had hoped to perform a weird “takeover” of Everton; stealing the name of the club in a legal way. But a meeting at the Football Council on 4th of February 1892 ruled that it could not approve membership of a new club with the same name as an existing member!

At the same time a group of Everton patriots, among them the organist from the St. Domingo’s church, had made a deal to buy a piece of land north of Stanley Park. The land cost them £8,090. Four members paid £1,000 each to let the deal go through. Houlding, left with an empty ground, took the bold step of forming a new football team to play in it.

Unable keep the Everton F.C. name he then thought bigger and finally acceded to his secretary’s proposal, and named his club after the entire city rather than one of its suburbs, even adopting by 1894 the City’s colour of red for the playing shirts and by 1901 the Liverbird as the crest.

The majority of Everton’s backroom and playing staff left for Goodison, so Liverpool FC had to be built from scratch. Fortunately one John McKenna stayed loyal to Houlding along with Barclay the Secretary. Most of the team building work was carried out by McKenna, a dynamic and personable Irishman. ‘Honest’ John McKenna did more than most people in English football.

He was to be a director at Anfield for 30 years, and also served the club as chairman on two occasions. He was a member of the FA Council from 1905, and he became the President of the Football League in 1910, and Vice-President of the Football Association in 1928. He also served on many different committees until he died in 1936. He was a well respected man, with an unique know-how of the game. Houlding is the founder of the club, but McKenna was the man and the brain behind early successes.

His rapid elevation to the top of English football is proof of John McKenna’s abilities as a manager and administrator. With a generous loan from Houlding of £500 that was never paid back, and McKenna’s know how, over a dozen players were recruited from Scotland. This led to LFC becoming known as the “Team of all the Macs” because of their surnames. However amongst the Scottish “Macs” in the early formations the goalkeeper Bill McOwen was in fact an Englishman.

Liverpool’s initial application to join the Football League was rejected and so they began life in the Lancashire League. On the first of September 1892 Liverpool AFC played their first match at Anfield. The opponents were Rotherham from the Midland League in a friendly.

On the very same day Everton played their first match at Goodison on the other side of Stanley Park. The rivalry was on! Which team would the people of Liverpool support? The Liverpool directors announced to the newspapers that: “No better game will be witnessed on any of the plots in the neighbourhood”. That was their message to Everton. The papers write that ‘Councillor J. Houlding kicked off the match’. Liverpool won the match 7-1. McVean scored the first ever Liverpool goal early in the first half. The only disappointment on the day was that only a handful people turned up. More than 10,000 came to Goodison.

A couple of days later Liverpool played the first match in the Lancashire League. Again LFC won heavily by eight goals to nil. The match was postponed for a few hours because of a late arrival of the guest team. Again only a few hundred people witnessed this convincing win. The captain of the day, McVean, won the toss and chose to play towards Anfield Road in the first half. A tradition many Liverpool captains have followed to this day. The club’s first competitive match was at home to Higher Walton on September 3rd 1892 with Liverpool yet again winning 8-0 .

latest premier league table

11 Oct
1 ChelseaChelsea 7 6 1 0 11 19
2 Manchester UnitedManchester United 7 5 0 2 8 15
3 Manchester CityManchester City 7 4 3 0 7 15
4 EvertonEverton 7 4 2 1 6 14
5 Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur 7 4 2 1 5 14
6 West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion 7 4 2 1 4 14
7 ArsenalArsenal 7 3 3 1 8 12
8 West Ham UnitedWest Ham United 7 3 2 2 0 11
9 FulhamFulham 7 3 1 3 4 10
10 Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United 7 2 3 2 -3 9
11 Swansea CitySwansea City 7 2 2 3 1 8
12 Stoke CityStoke City 7 1 5 1 1 8
13 SunderlandSunderland 6 1 4 1 -2 7
14 LiverpoolLiverpool 7 1 3 3 -3 6
15 Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic 7 1 2 4 -6 5
16 Aston VillaAston Villa 7 1 2 4 -6 5
17 SouthamptonSouthampton 7 1 1 5 -8 4
18 ReadingReading 6 0 3 3 -5 3
19 Norwich CityNorwich City 7 0 3 4 -12 3
20 Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers 7 0 2 5 -10 2

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/10/11/pepe-reina-praised-by-liverpool-fc-manager-brendan-rodgers-100252-32009926/#ixzz28zZHBvss

Pepe Reina praised by Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers

11 Oct

 

Liverpool FC goalkeeper Pepe Reina

Liverpool FC goalkeeper Pepe Reina

*Join the conversation with other Reds on our LFC Facebook page

BRENDAN RODGERS has reaffirmed his faith in Liverpool FC goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

The Spanish shot-stopper has endured a tough start to the season with some alarming errors against the likes of Hearts, Arsenal and Norwich.

However, the Anfield boss insists he has no concerns about Reina’s form and sees the 30-year-old as key to the Reds’ hopes of future success.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Pepe,” said Rodgers.

“He’s a keeper who has really impressed me. He’s a good guy who comes in and works hard every day.

“Like all the other players here he’s trying to improve and become a better player.

“Pepe has been here for a number of years and has proved himself over a long period of time.

“He’s obviously adapting to a new style but this is a way of working which is perfect for Pepe.

“He came through the Barcelona model so he understands this way of playing and what I’m trying to do perfectly.

“He’s working very hard to get in the best possible moment in his game.

“As a team, we just need to cut out the kind of mistakes we’ve been making. If we do that then everyone will benefit from that, including Pepe.”

Rodgers believes Reina showcased his class with a breathtaking save in last Thursday’s Europa League defeat to Udinese at Anfield.

The former Villareal No 1 flung himself full length to his right to claw Medhi Benatia’s header past the post in front of the Kop.

Reina then kept his first Premier League clean sheet of the campaign in last weekend’s stalemate with Stoke City as he made two vital early saves to deny Charlie Adam and Michael Kightly.

“That header against Udinese, it looked like a goal,” added Rodgers.

“I think everyone inside Anfield probably felt it was probably going to go in.

“But it was a wonderful reaction from Pepe and a great arm to push it out.

“There is obviously a lot of pressure on every player when they play for a top club, but it’s at moments like that when you see who the top keepers really are.”

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/10/11/pepe-reina-praised-by-liverpool-fc-manager-brendan-rodgers-100252-32009926/#ixzz28zYmNmrd

Match report chelsea vs norwich

11 Oct

Chelsea’s impressive start to the season continues after we came from behind to earn a convincing win against Norwich at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The visitors went in front early through forward Grant Holt, but Fernando Torres quickly levelled with a fine header, and 10 minutes later we were ahead when Frank Lampard rattled home a superb half-volley.

A swift counter-attack from Juan Mata allowed him to create a third for Eden Hazard, and Branislav Ivanovicsmashed a fourth in the second half to maintain our unbeaten start to the campaign and move us four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Team news
Roberto Di Matteo made three changes to the side that beat FC Nordsjaelland on Tuesday night, with Hazard andJohn Terry both back in the team, and John Mikel Obi recalled to play his 250th Chelsea game.

Those three replaced Victor Moses, Gary Cahill and Ramires, all of whom were on the bench. Hazard started on the left, with in-form Mata on the right with the licence to cut inside. Ashley Cole also started despite making the headlines in the newspapers.

Norwich, beaten 5-2 by Liverpool last weekend, were much-changed, with former Spurs centre-back Sebastien Bassong returning in defence, and last season’s top scorer and captain Grant Holt leading the attack.

Chelsea’s bench included Cesar Azpilicueta, who would make a late appearance for a league debut.

First half
Chelsea should have been in front inside three minutes, when Fernando Torres beat the offside trap and was set free by Mikel‘s lofted pass. The striker ran on, but then inexplicably opted to try and turn into a crowded penalty area rather than shoot with his stronger right foot. The hesitation allowed Bassong in to block.

It was not long before we were made to pay, as Holt fired Norwich in front on 10 minutes, striking hard and low past a helpless Petr Cech after Leon Barnett had nodded Wes Hoolahan’s cross down. The visitors had been afforded far too much space both in delivering and meeting the cross, and Holt was typically uncompromising with his blasted finish.

Torres had some making up to do, and was quickly demonstrating his instinctive best as he headed Chelsea level three minutes later. Branislav Ivanovic combined with Mata to whip a cross into the box from the right, and the former Liverpool hitman was on hand to meet the ball and direct it hard into John Ruddy’s bottom right-hand corner. Honours even and Torres forgiven for his earlier indecision.

Chelsea v Norwich

Most would have expected the equaliser to settle the nerves around Stamford Bridge, but defensively the Blues still looked incredibly unorganised. Hoolahan’s cross was met by Alexander Tettey who couldn’t direct the header, and then with another bite of the cherry Bradley Johnson could only side-foot straight at Cech.

This time it was Norwich who would regret their profligacy, as Frank Lampard converted a superbly-struck half-volley from the edge of the box, after Torres had seen an overhead kick blocked by a defender.

It was Lampard’s 189th Chelsea goal, and his 129thin the Premier League, to take him ahead of Roy Bentley and level with Bobby Tambling for club league strikes.

It was turning into a good afternoon for the Stamford Bridge faithful, and it would get even better on the 30-minute mark when Mata robbed the ball in his own half following a Norwich corner, and broke fast into opposition territory.

With options right and left, he went left, and found Hazard with a perfectly weighted pass, allowing the Belgian the simple task of side-footing beyond Ruddy to double our advantage.

Chelsea v Norwich

Norwich are yet to win this season, and Hughton had demanded a reaction after the Liverpool defeat last week. They provided one with the ingenuity of Hoolahan, the diminutive midfielder, at the heart of all they did good. It was his low cross, aimed for Holt, that forced Terry to almost divert into his own goal.

Back on the front foot, Oscar, until this point quiet, danced around two challenges inside the box before passing the ball low towards goal, bringing a lively save from Ruddy.

Shortly before the break there were signs once again that defensively, Chelsea were not as tight as we have been. Johnson’s deep cross found Holt with space, though Terry did just enough in closing him down to force the striker off-target with his header.

Second half
The second period began in the same fashion as the first ended, Holt glancing a header just wide under pressure from Terry as Norwich sought a way back into the game.

Had referee Anthony Taylor seen things a little differently they might have been well out of it by the 53rd minute, with Hazard tripped by Barnett inside the box when chasing a pass. There was a clear obstruction of the Chelsea man, who felt he should have had a penalty.

Ruddy then made two decent stops, one from Oscar, the next from Hazard, who was denied by the keeper’s legs after tidy Chelsea passing.

Ramires was brought on for Lampard to add a little more protection, but further up the pitch there was still fun to be had as Ivanovic crashed home a fourth to put us in complete control.

Oscar crossed from the left, eventually finding Mata, whose flick into the air fell perfectly for the Serbian to hammer home into the bottom corner.

Chelsea v Norwich

With the game won it was time for Chelsea’s great entertainers to enjoy themselves, with the fantastic three of Mata, Hazard and Oscar running Norwich’s midfield ragged, while sub Oriol Romeu twice went narrowly wide as he sought a first league goal to add to his Capital One Cup penalty against Wolves last week.

 

 

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic (Azpilicueta 78), David Luiz, Terry (c), Cole; Mikel (Romeu 82), Lampard (Ramires 67); Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres.
Unused subs Turnbull, Cahill, Bertrand, Moses.
Goals Torres 14, Lampard 21, Hazard 30, Ivanovic 76

Norwich City (4-4-1-1): Ruddy; R Martin, Barnett, Bassong (R Bennett 78), Garrido; E Bennett, Howson, Tettey, Johnson (Pilkington 68); Hoolahan; Holt (c) (Morison 77).
Unused subs Bunn, Snodgrass, Turner, Jackson.
Goals Holt 10

Referee Anthony Taylor
Attendance 41,784

Who creates most liverpool chances?

11 Oct

This season, with the help of Opta, Liverpoolfc.com has been busy bringing you detailed statistics from each of the Reds’ domestic fixtures as well as diverse facts from around the Barclays Premier League.

joe allen

And in our latest countdown feature, we are seeking to establish which Red has created the most chances for his teammates throughout the opening exchanges of the current campaign.

Luis Suarez notched an assist when he picked-out Nuri Sahin at Carrow Road, Steven Gerrard planted a corner on the head of Martin Skrtel to break the deadlock against City at Anfield and Joe Allen has emerged as a fan-favourite by showcasing his fine passing range.

But which of these players have created the most goalscoring chances for others? And how do they fare compared to the rest of Brendan Rodgers’ squad in the chance-creating stakes

Ronaldinho banned

11 Oct

 

Atletico Mineiro’s Ronaldinho has been handed a one-match suspension by Brazil’s sports tribunal after kicking out dangerously at an opponent.

 

Ronaldinho Atletico Mineiro

PA PhotosRonaldinho: Signed for Atletico Mineiro in the summer

 

The incident happened during Atletico’s goalless draw with Gremio on September 23 as Ronaldinho, 32, raised his right leg and came close to catching Kleber’s face.

The Brazilian forward was not punished for the challenge by the referee but, after reviewing video footage, a tribunal has decided that a one-match ban is a suitable punishment.

Atletico’s lawyers appealed against the outcome, but the tribunal said on Wednesday that it would uphold the suspension, meaning Ronaldinho will not play in his side’s next match against Internacional.

Ronaldinho joined Atletico Mineiro in the summer on a six-month contract. The club are second in the Brazilian league, nine points behind leaders Fluminense.

barcelona sponsor

11 Oct

Barcelona have never had a shirt sponsor, and are raising awareness of UNICEF by giving them free ad space.
UNICEF could not afford to pay that much money to sponsor a football team. Besides, the people who give money to UNICEF want to see it spent on helping children, not overpaid footballers .(2005 kits on the left)

-(2006 kits on the right)

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