Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has signed a new contract at the club that will almost certainly mean he will see out his playing days at Anfield.
The 31-year-old has also agreed to work for the Reds in an ambassadorial role when he eventually hangs up his boots.
Rated as one of the greatest players to have ever played for Liverpool, Gerrard has spent more than half of his life with the club, the highlight of his career coming in 2005 when he captained the side that won the Champions League against AC Milan. The midfielder has won every major trophy on offer for the Reds, with the only exception being the Premier League title.
Gerrard famously came close to leaving Anfield following the club’s Champions League triumph, with a potential move to Chelsea causing uproar with the club’s fans.
But on seeing the response of the Liverpool faithful, he retracted his desire to leave Merseyside, saying: “I could see the great possibilities of Chelsea, but my heart wouldn’t let me leave.”
The Huyton-born player has also represented England 89 times, scoring 19 goals to date, and also captained his country at the World Cup finals in South Africa 2010.
Statistics also prove that Gerrard will go down in history as a true Liverpool great: in 567 competitive appearances he has scored 144 goals and is currently ninth on the club’s all-time goalscoring list despite being a midfielder.
At still only 31, Gerrard still has plenty to give his beloved team despite long-term injuries hampering his progress in recent months. His latest comeback from the sidelines has seen him look perhaps the fittest he ever has been in the red of Liverpool.
During his career with the Reds, Gerrard has seen some turbulent times, from boardroom unrest under former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, to the club failing to qualify for a European competition for the first time in almost 20 years.
But the highs are also plentiful. Among the major honours, Gerrard has also won many personal accolades, including an MBE and the PFA Player of the Year award in 2006.