TO mark his fifth anniversary as Liverpool skipper, Steven Gerrard has given his personal account of what it takes to wear the armband in the recently released "Captain's Book”. Here, in an exclusive extract from the book, Gerrard tells of the moment he offered to give up the captain's role he cherishes and how he could never quit Anfield.
AFTER winning the European Cup in Istanbul in May 2005, Steven Gerrard ended up spending most of the summer agonising over his future.
Chelsea had come calling for the second time in little more than a year and the Huyton-born midfielder came perilously close to joining Jose Mourinho’s squad.
But having pulled back from the brink because, when it came down to it, he simply could not bear to leave the club he had supported all his life, Gerrard thought it only right that he should offer to give up the club captaincy.
“In my heart, this is my club and I want to bring success here for the supporters,” he writes.
“For their sake as well as my own, I never want to go through the events of July 2005 ever again.
“That was when I told Liverpool I wanted to leave (to go to Chelsea). But I just didn’t want to let go of what I’ve worked so hard for and as everyone knows by now, I could never leave this club.
“I’ve been here since I was eight years of age. I’d worked so hard to become captain and had so many great times and have got great relationships with people here.
“I knew the club deserved the next five to ten years of my career and I didn’t – and don’t – want to give those years to any other club. I want to give them to Liverpool.
“Winning the league is what I want more than anything and Liverpool is the only place I ever wanted to win it.
“I think that those few days in early July, 2005 where the most difficult days of my life.
“I’m not proud of them. I wanted it all to blow over and for it all to be forgotten about. I just wanted to get on with my football.
“At times, I thought I’d played my last game. I did a lot of thinking and I became really confused.
“It was difficult and I wouldn’t wish what I went through on any other player or any other person.
“I know I hurt the fans at the time and they were entitled to their opinion.
“I had to explain why I was turning Chelsea down at a press conference in June 2004 and I had to put them through it all again a year or so later.
“After it all happened, I said to the manager I would like to speak to the players on my own because I knew some of them had been frustrated with what had gone on, just like the fans.
“I offered to give up the armband which would have broken my heart but it was right to make the offer.”
Fortunately for Liverpool, the offer was turned down and Gerrard remains Reds skipper to this day.
AFTER winning the European Cup in Istanbul in May 2005, Steven Gerrard ended up spending most of the summer agonising over his future.
Chelsea had come calling for the second time in little more than a year and the Huyton-born midfielder came perilously close to joining Jose Mourinho’s squad.
But having pulled back from the brink because, when it came down to it, he simply could not bear to leave the club he had supported all his life, Gerrard thought it only right that he should offer to give up the club captaincy.
“In my heart, this is my club and I want to bring success here for the supporters,” he writes.
“For their sake as well as my own, I never want to go through the events of July 2005 ever again.
“That was when I told Liverpool I wanted to leave (to go to Chelsea). But I just didn’t want to let go of what I’ve worked so hard for and as everyone knows by now, I could never leave this club.
“I’ve been here since I was eight years of age. I’d worked so hard to become captain and had so many great times and have got great relationships with people here.
“I knew the club deserved the next five to ten years of my career and I didn’t – and don’t – want to give those years to any other club. I want to give them to Liverpool.
“Winning the league is what I want more than anything and Liverpool is the only place I ever wanted to win it.
“I think that those few days in early July, 2005 where the most difficult days of my life.
“I’m not proud of them. I wanted it all to blow over and for it all to be forgotten about. I just wanted to get on with my football.
“At times, I thought I’d played my last game. I did a lot of thinking and I became really confused.
“It was difficult and I wouldn’t wish what I went through on any other player or any other person.
“I know I hurt the fans at the time and they were entitled to their opinion.
“I had to explain why I was turning Chelsea down at a press conference in June 2004 and I had to put them through it all again a year or so later.
“After it all happened, I said to the manager I would like to speak to the players on my own because I knew some of them had been frustrated with what had gone on, just like the fans.
“I offered to give up the armband which would have broken my heart but it was right to make the offer.”
Fortunately for Liverpool, the offer was turned down and Gerrard remains Reds skipper to this day.
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