Stevie G, the closest we have to the King
WHEN STEVEN GERRARD announced his retirement this week, I did the football thing – and sent him a message taking the p***!
What I actually said was “Don’t die on me any time soon – because I can’t handle any more tributes”.
The reaction to him hanging up his boots has been incredible, so imagine what it’d be like if he popped his clogs.
The thing is, I know he’ll be embarrassed about this because he has always been a fairly quiet, sometimes even shy lad, but he deserves it. I’m asked all the time who’s the greatest I’ve p played with.
I love Stevie Mac – Steve M McManaman to those w without Red blood– a absolutely loved playing a alongside him because of wh what he was to me, how he was to me and the understanding we had on the pitch.
But, in terms of any player who came near to running ‘King’ Kenny Dalglish (above) close as Liverpool’s greatest-ever player, then it has to be Stevie G.
I’ve always known him as Stevie G, even when he was this slight kid who had been identified as a big talent.
Normally, when a kid comes into the first-team dressing room – especially in those days when there was a real sense of the way of doing things at Anfield – they get pelted and given all sorts of nicknames. It didn’t mean we left him alone, mind. I used to take the mickey out of his hair if I remember correctly, because he had this fringe that started at his nostrils when he first came in the side.
Yet, I think that nickname shows he was always thought of as a bit special.
Even if, like most of us, he struggled a bit in the early days, he was a bit awkward in public and very shy of public speaking. Off the pitch, he was very shy and still is.
On it, he had a strength an d confidence that made him cocksure. I was like that, many
STEVEN GERRARD’S desire to break into management one day highlights an issue that is getting bigger. How do we produce coaches who can reach the top of the young pros have been like that, but not many could back it up. He did. There was always that story about him being a youth- team kid who was brought in to train with the first- team squad and he smashed our captain Paul
game and develop the qualities required to eventually manage the England team?
I want to return to the game I love as a coach, yet I’ve not been given a chance. Nothing. I’ve played for England, scored Ince. When Incey moaned at him, Stevie was supposed to have said: “Shut the f**k up, I’m going to take your place.”
I’m not sure if it was quite like that or if it’s become a bit of a myth, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was true.
And he certainly went on to justify it, not just because he took Incey’s position, but because he became one of the
goals at the highest level, worked with some of the top coaches and studied them.
I have ideas about strategy, tactics, development, manmanagement, conditioning, and I’m prepared to listen and greatest ever Premier League players. Kenny has a unique place in Liverpool’s history, but Stevie has come close to matching that – and that’s the biggest tribute I can pay him.
People have asked if I remembered him as a kid and the honest answer is I don’t really, but I knew about him, because our youth team coach Steve Heighway spoke very highly of him.
He was around the squad for a while and I guess the moment I realised he’d be one of those players who could go to the next level was when he made his first start, at Tottenham in 1998.
I’m not taking credit for his career, believe me, but I think I looked after him a bit when he got into the side, because I knew who he was, where we were both from, that we had the same tough upbringing in similar areas of Liverpool.
I gave him a bit of advice before the Spurs game, just said to be calm and do what he had done as the leader in the youth teams.
I took time to talk to him and show him that respect and he always gave that respect back – that is certain.
What we always did in those days was maintain a culture that didn’t allow any players to get ahead of themselves.
Ronnie Moran was still a big influence at the club and he made sure no one got big-headed or carried away. Stevie never once did. He was always completely grounded and stuck with the mates he had grown up with. When he got in the first team, he still kicked around with his mates from the youth team – and still does.
His best mate is Bavo [Ian Dunbavin], who was a kid at Liverpool and went on to play for Accrington.
I think that grounded mentality has always served him well and is part of the reason he is a true Liverpool legend.
He’s a funny, decent bloke with an incredible talent. One final story. He’s got an incredible dry wit and that is something that’s also a big part of him.
Don’t ask why, but there we were, two instantly recognisable footballers clambering about on a roof outside his flat in Southport, when we got rumbled.
We both ducked down instantly and quick as a flash, he started making this ridiculous miaowing noise. Gerrard the cat. It still kills me to this day.