GERS BOSS IN ICON TRIBUTE QUICK QUIZ
Scotland great St John had lost a long battle against illness on Monday, aged 82.
And a clearly shaken Gerrard then paid a personal and heartfelt tribute to the man he described as an icon of the Merseyside club.
When informed of the sad announcement, former Liverpool captain Gerrard said: “That’s a shock and a surprise to me. I didn’t know that as I have got nothing around me to see that breaking news.
“I’m really disappointed to hear that.
“He’s an iconic figure at Liverpool Football Club.
“He’s someone I’ve met on numerous occasions, a fantastic guy, really insightful in terms of his career and his experience at Liverpool and trying to pass on a lot of knowledge and expertise.
“So I’m really devastated to hear that news to be honest with you and shocked as well.
“I’d like to send my condolences to all his family and everyone close to The Saint.
“He’s a legend and an iconic figure at the club and someone I’ve got incredible respect for.”
Fellow former Liverpool and Scotland great Sir Kenny Dalglish also joined the tributes to “icon” St John, claiming he helped make the Anfield club what it is today.
St John was a cornerstone of Bill Shankly’s first great Liverpool side following his record move from Motherwell, helping them win two Division One titles in 1964 and 1966 and the club’s first FA Cup triumph in 1965.
Anfield legend Dalglish claims his fellow Scot helped lay the foundations for Liverpool’s enduring success.
He said: “I think it’s right to use the word ‘icon’.
“It’s because of what he did in those early days, Shanks especially, the Saint and Big Yeatsy [Ron Yeats], his big mucker, it’s because of them this football club is where it is.
“We should be eternally grateful for what he did for the football club.”
Current Kop manager Jurgen Klopp admitted he felt honoured to have met St John, who was the club’s record signing at £37,500 when he moved south in 1961.
The German gaffer said: “He was not only footballwise a legend, but a true legend as a person.
“It was a pure pleasure to meet him.
“When I heard the news I was devastated.”
Andy Robertson, who has followed in St John’s footsteps as a titlewinning Scot at Anfield, also paid a heartfelt tribute.
The Scotland captain said: “A man of warmth, humour, knowledge, wisdom and joy.
“Scotland and Liverpool has lost a true giant.”
And Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson tweeted: “RIP Ian St John. One of the greats.”
Anfield legend Jamie Carragher grew up watching St John on ITV’s ‘Saint and Greavsie’ show on Saturday lunchtimes and said he had helped make Liverpool great.
Carragher tweeted: “Another Liverpool legend sadly passes away.
“One of the players along with Bill Shankly who made this club what it is today.
“I’ll remember him most on the best football show on TV, Saint and Greavsie.”
TV sidekick Jimmy Greaves paid his own tribute to his old friend and tweeted: “We had great fun working on the Saint and Greavsie.
“He was a lovely man and will be sadly missed by many, many people.”
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