Steven Gerrard is one of Liverpool's greatest ever players, but he has admitted to wearing a Manchester United shirt as a kid while pretending to be a Red Devils icon - much to his father's ire
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Steven Gerrard of Liverpool during the LFC Foundation charity match between Liverpool FC Legends and AFC Ajax Legends at Anfield
Steven Gerrard once sported a Manchester United kit(Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Steven Gerrard found himself in hot water with his father as a child for donning a Manchester United shirt. The Liverpool legend, who dedicated virtually all of his career to the Reds, described an amusing faux pas from his youth.
Despite Liverpool's infamous rivalry with United, a young Gerrard, oblivious to the intense animosity between the clubs, once found himself revelling in wearing a Red Devils kit. In his autobiography, the former skipper reminisced about a day when his admiration for Bryan Robson led him to swap his top for a friend's jersey during a street kickabout.
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Gerrard said (via the Mirror): "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, excitement turned to trouble when his dad saw him sporting the opposition's colours. 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?'
"'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.
Steven Gerrard of Liverpool in action during the LFC Foundation charity match at Anfield
The Liverpool legend learned his lesson(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"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 a nine-year stint in Liverpool's academy, Gerrard signed his first professional contract with the club in 1998, making his senior debut as a late substitute during a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Anfield.
Over the next 17 years, Gerrard cemented his status as a bonafide legend, clocking up 710 appearances across all competitions and being appointed club captain in October 2003. Boasting two FA Cups, three League Cups, a Community Shield and a Champions League title, Gerrard bid farewell to the club in 2015 to join LA Galaxy - hanging up his boots in November of the following year.
Manager coach Steven Gerrard from Al Ittifaq FC watches the game during the Roshn Saudi Pro League football match between Al Fayha v Al Ettifaq at Majmaah Sports City
Gerrard has had a number of managerial roles since retiring from playing
On the international stage, he also earned 114 caps for England, despite not lifting a title with the country. Since then, Gerrard has made the switch to football management.
Starting his coaching career with Liverpool's U18 and U19 teams, he took charge of Rangers in 2018, spending three years at the Glasgow club and even securing the Scottish Premiership title in 2020/21. However, in November 2021, Gerrard made a return to the Premier League as the manager of Aston Villa, where he led the team to a mediocre 14th-place finish in his first season.
After managing only two victories in the team's initial 12 matches the subsequent season, he was let go by the club. Gerrard's latest stint was with Saudi Pro League team, Al-Effitaq, signing a contract in July 2023.
However, he departed by mutual agreement in January of this year, and has not returned to management since. Gerrard has been linked with a return to Rangers, who are currently being led by interim boss Barry Ferguson