Now well-established in the world of management and awaiting a new job since leaving Al-Ettifaq in early 2025, Steven Gerrard enjoyed a legendary playing career before embarking on his current ventures. A product of the Liverpool academy, Gerrard would spend the entirety of his senior career, in Europe at least, with the Reds.
Debuting in 1998, Gerrard’s quality soon became apparent and he quickly found himself as part of the first team. The 2000/01 season saw Gerrard help Liverpool win a treble of the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and League Cup, with the latter being a trophy that the Reds would win again just two years later. Regarding trophies for Gerrard, none come close to the Champions League, which he won with Liverpool in 2005.
Finding themselves 3-0 down against AC Milan at half-time, the Reds produced an inspired comeback to tie the match in the second half, with Gerrard scoring the first of Liverpool’s goals and winning the penalty that led to their third. That clash is often regarded as one of the greatest Champions League finals in history.
Gerrard is, without doubt, a Liverpool icon, regardless of whether he won the Premier League or not. The midfielder joined LA Galaxy in 2015 and the following year, ended his career for good. He soon ventured into management and to date, Gerrard has found the most success with Rangers, who he guided to an unbeaten Premiership title in the 2020/21 season.
A well-respected figure in football, Gerrard’s opinions are often listened to by many when stated. Back in 2013, the midfielder, via TNT Sports, revealed which player he thought was destined for the very top.
‘Got a Bit Of Everything’
Gerrard was full of compliments for former midfielder
By 2013, Gerrard was a midfielder with 15 years of senior experience, somebody who had seen and experienced first-hand what is necessary for a player to reach the very top. Ahead of an England match against Brazil, Gerrard said of his international teammate at the time:
“He can tick almost every box and he’s going to get better and better. He’ll get better than he is now, which is a scary thought. Jack (Wilshere) has got a bit of everything.
“He can tackle, get up and down the pitch, create a goal, score a goal, he can pass. I think he’s got the potential to become one of the best in the world and I don’t want to add any pressure. I have a lot of confidence in him.”
Now a coach, Wilshere was one of his generation’s most promising midfield talents. One of Arsenal’s youngest-ever debutants, the Englishman became a key part of the Gunners’ first team while still just a teenager, though Wilshere’s career would be plagued by injury which, in turn, interrupted his development.
Jack Wilshere Club Career Stats
Playing Career
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Yellow Cards
Straight Red Cards
Major Honours Won
Wilshere departed Arsenal in 2018, two years after his final appearance for the Three Lions. Amazingly, despite having played for a decade by that point, Wilshere was still just 26 years old when he left North London. A two-year stint at West Ham followed but once again, the midfielder struggled for fitness. After brief tenures with Bournemouth and AGF in Denmark, Wilshere retired at just 30 years old.
Without injury, it is hard to imagine what heights Wilshere would have reached as a player. Given what many, including Gerrard, have said about him, however, it is safe to presume that Wilshere would have been one of his era’s absolute best were he able to stay fit consistently.
( All stats are fromTransfermarktand are correct as of 20/06/2025 )
Jack Wilshere Related
Jack Wilshere Named the One Footballer He'd 'Spend His Last £10' to Watch
Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere named a Barcelona icon as the one footballer he would pay to watch.