Steven Gerrard stood out as Liverpool youngster, says Jamie Redknapp
Friday 15 May 2015 13:29, UK
As Steven Gerrard prepares to make his final Anfield appearance, his former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp reflects on his earliest memories of the local lad who went on to become a legend...
First memory
My first memories of Steven Gerrard are of him cleaning my boots as an apprentice. He was this young, skinny kid with a cropped haircut but he was a nice boy.
One day he joined in with the first-team at training and I thought ‘ah, that’s good, that’s nice for him’. But he ran the game! Normally when I’d pass to a young player they’d set it back for me to play the pass, but the first time I gave it to him he turned and hit this fantastic long-range ball himself.
I just knew then I was in the presence of somebody who would become very, very good at what they did.
Quiet but passionate
Stevie was quiet but funny as a youngster. He had a great turn of phrase. As he’s got older we’ve seen him be very serious at times – sometimes, I think, too serious – but that’s just because he cares so much. But he’s also a very funny, humorous man. I’ve had some great laughs with him.
As a young player he had quite a lot of injuries and I remember travelling around with him as we both tried to get fit; seeing him get his wisdom teeth taken out in France was an odd experience.
It’s one thing being a great footballer but it’s more important to be a good lad and he’s certainly that. However, in training he used to go right into people. He had a streak to him and he’d go sliding into tackles. I loved it.
Mixing it in the first team
He stood out for me as the best of those young Liverpool players coming through at that time. I don’t think he did to Gerard Houllier but he did to me. Stevie was totally different to the other young players; he had such great ability on the ball.
It wasn’t long before he was involved with the first-team. I remember him being quiet before matches in the dressing room but he got himself fired up and was sent off in his first Merseyside derby. He always had a little bit of devilment in him but that’s what would take him to the top.
The game has changed a lot since he first came on the scene, with the banning of two-footed tackles and so on, so he’s had to slowly ease that out of his game. But he’s always had the passion and aggression all top players have.
The complete midfielder
Everybody has their favourite midfield player. Some say Paul Scholes, some Roy Keane or Patrick Vieira or Frank Lampard. But the reason I always say Stevie, having played with him and against him, is because he encapsulated what they all do well rolled into one.
He’s got a little bit of everything. He can score goals like Lampard, tackle like Keane... My dad summed it up perfectly when he first saw him play. He said: “He’s like Roy of the Rovers, that kid.” That’s what Stevie is and that’s why they love him at Liverpool.
Strangely, he didn’t know how good he was. I’ve always had that feeling with him. I wouldn’t say that held him back but I don’t think he knows he’s a superstar. He’s such a humble guy. He’s not arrogant or big-time, he’s the same Stevie Gerrard I knew when he was 16.
A lot of people will say ‘he hasn’t won the league’ but there are a lot of people who have played at Manchester United and won multiple trophies who couldn’t lace his boots.
Trophies shouldn’t define how good a player you are. It doesn’t work like that, in my opinion. Of course they’re great to have on your CV but does not winning the Premier League mean Stevie isn’t a world class player? Of course it doesn’t.
The first time I saw Steven Gerrard I knew he’d be Liverpool captain one day.
Natural leader
The first time I saw him I knew he’d be Liverpool captain one day. It was always going to be there for him. Some players carry themselves differently, the way they portray themselves around the training ground – you could see the way he was watching, wanting to learn.
He loved the game and being a local lad he knew what it meant to play for Liverpool. Straight away you knew you had one in your midst who would go right to the top.
My favourite Gerrard goal…
One of my favourites was the goal against West Ham in the FA Cup final in 2006. I was watching that game and saw him getting cramp and I thought ‘that’s it for Stevie, that’s it for Liverpool’. But he got himself up and within two minutes he’s hitting a half-volley, one of the best strikes you’ve ever seen into the bottom corner, rifled in there. ‘Wow’.
That’s what set him apart – those Michael Jordan moments that other people can’t produce.
Fan favourite
The Liverpool fans have been so lucky to have him – and he’s been lucky to have them. It’s been the perfect marriage. Players like Stevie are special, we have to celebrate him and remember the great things he’s done. It will be an emotional day for everyone concerned on Saturday – and there will be no better way for him to sign off than smashing one in from 25 yards in front of the Kop!
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I think the decision for him to leave was made for him to a certain extent. He probably didn’t have the contract offer he wanted, Brendan Rodgers told him he wouldn’t be part of the plans every week and he thought ‘I don’t want to go out like that’. He wants to be remembered as one of the best – but he’s not Peter Pan, it has to come to an end.
But moving to the US will be a great experience for him. I don’t think this is the end of his Liverpool career, though. There will be another chapter somewhere down the line, whether as an ambassador or even as a manager one day, you never know.
One thing’s for sure, though: there will never be another midfielder who has done what Steven Gerrard has done for Liverpool. For a home-grown kid to come along and achieve what he’s achieved, captained the club, scored the goals and been a hero like he has? It really is Roy of the Rovers stuff.
Watch Steven Gerrard's final game at Anfield as Liverpool take on Crystal Palace live on Saturday Night Football from 5pm on Sky Sports 1 HD
