ZINEDINE ZIDANE SEES elements of himself in Steven Gerrard as the former England midfielder prepares to call time on his Liverpool career.
Gerrard will wave farewell to the Premier League in Sunday’s swansong at Stoke City, bringing to an end a remarkable 17 years in the first team at his boyhood club. And he has clearly won some high-profile admirers along the way, with World Cup winner Zidane speaking of his admiration for the 34-year-old.
“He’s a player that I really thought a lot of, I had a lot of time for him and rated him. I can’t say that about everyone,” he told LFCTV’s ‘Gerrard: My Liverpool’.
“Why did I like him so much? Perhaps there was something about him that reminded me a little bit of myself. He made a lot of noise out there on the field but was quiet off it, meaning that he was someone down to earth and grounded away from the game who just said what needed to be said.
“He preferred to do his talking on the field, using his voice, his combative spirit and above all his ability on the ball that could make the difference in a game.”
The Frenchman wanted to have Gerrard, who will continue his career with the LA Galaxy, as a team-mate when a move to Real Madrid appeared to be on the cards, but they only ever shared a pitch as adversaries.
“I would really liked to have played alongside him. But he has always remained loyal to his own club, Liverpool, the club of his heart,” Zidane added.
“That also is another characteristic that is particular to him, I don’t think there are too many players who have spent their entire career playing for just one club.
“That is a great strength of his too. It was never possible, because of course he stayed with Liverpool, but I would have loved to play with a guy like him.”
Originally published at 10.09
Typical LFC supporter response get over it.
Could be the beginning of the end for Gary, once the press start picking holes in ya then usually the pressure cranks right up from all angles, we all miss him on sky anyway even liverpool fans too
Most Liverpool fans think he was great on sky hopefully we’ll see him back in August
Typical manc. Full of s#@t
Adrian I think your going to be late for school
You know he said he didn’t think management was in his future after taking the job
Perro y pato….take a bow whoever came up with that one
Hilarious. Side splittingly hilarious.