Steven Gerrard will go down as one of the greatest-ever players to wear a Liverpool shirt – but he found himself in hot water with his father as a child for donning a Manchester United top
Steven Gerrard has recounted how his father lambasted him for wearing a Manchester United shirt in his youth.
The 44-year-old is one of Liverpool’s most iconic players, spending the entirety of his career, barring one season, in his hometown. And while the idea of him ever touching a Red Devils kit would be a cardinal sin to many football fans – given the fierce rivalry between the two clubs – the midfield maestro didn’t know any better in his younger years.
In a section of his autobiography, Gerrard, the former Liverpool captain, recalled how his father was fuming when he spotted his son – who idolised Bryan Robson – wearing a United shirt while having a kickabout with friends on the Huyton estate. He explained: “A mate of mine owned this Robson top, the old blue and white one with dashes on it.
“We were kicking about on Ironside and I asked him whether I could be Robson for a while. I slipped out of my Liverpool shirt, and put the Robson one on.
“It felt fantastic. I wore it for an hour, charging all over, flying into tackles, scoring brave goals, pretending I was Robson.” However, Gerrard – around 11 years old at the time – noted how the mood quickly changed when his dad saw him in the jersey.
He added: “Unfortunately, dad looked out the window and went ballistic. ‘Get inside now!’ he screamed. Scarcely through the door, I ran into a right-good grilling.
“‘What the hell are you playing at, wearing a Manchester United shirt?’ he asked. ‘But dad, it’s Bryan Robson’s shirt,’ I explained. Dad couldn’t have cared less. ‘You should know better’.
“It was a United strip, and dad wasn’t having any son of his dragging the Gerrard name through the Huyton gutter. What would the neighbours think? Honest to God, I thought I was going to have to move house. I was only a baby, but I was convinced dad would kick me out for putting on that United shirt.”
After spending nine years in the Liverpool academy, Gerrard signed his first professional contract with the club in 1998 – making his first-team debut as a late substitute during a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at Anfield. Over the next 17 years, Gerrard established himself as a legend on Merseyside, making 710 appearances across all competitions while being made club captain in October 2003.
With two FA Cups, three League Cups, a Community Shield and a Champions League to his name, Gerrard parted ways with the club in 2015 to spend a year with LA Galaxy, retiring in the November of the following year. At international level, he also made 114 appearances for England, despite failing to life a title with the nation.
In the years since, Gerrard has transitioned into the world of football management. After kicking off his career from the dugouts of Liverpool’s U18 and U19 sides, he took the reins of Rangers in 2018 – spending three years with the Glaswegian side and even lifting the Scottish Premiership in 2020/21.
However, in November 2021, Gerrard returned to the Premier League to oversee Aston Villa, where he achieved a sub-par 14th-place finish in his maiden season. After winning just two of the side’s first 12 games the following season, he was dismissed by the club.
Gerrard’s most recent role came in the form of Saudi Pro League side, Al-Effitaq – signing a deal in July 2023. However, he left by mutual consent in January this year, and is yet to return to management since.
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