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Steven Gerrard is, for the first time in nearly two decades, not a professional footballer. With his official retirement today, he immediately enters the ranks of legends, not just one of Liverpool’s greats but one of football’s most gifted and dominating midfielders.
More than 700 games and 186 goals for club; more than 100 games and 21 goals for country. Countless moments of magic; times he carried the team on his back. He was rightly labeled a legend well before he retired, and today former teammates and some of the game’s greats lined up to show their appreciation, starting with his former teammates.
The Legend Forever. pic.twitter.com/0spWLyP1JY
— Xabi Alonso (@XabiAlonso) November 24, 2016
Steven Gerrard, the best I've ever played with, thanks for all the great memories, mate! #legend #YNWA pic.twitter.com/ZiOdWcnY0o
— Dirk Kuyt (@Kuyt) November 24, 2016
It's been an honour to play with you / Ha sido un honor jugar a tu lado #YNWA pic.twitter.com/cAU3o365CR
— FERNANDO TORRES (@Torres) November 24, 2016
Y.N.W.A pic.twitter.com/9GRZOgLjkD
— Daniel Agger (@DanielAgger) November 24, 2016
Some fellow legends and former rivals chipped in with their thoughts, too.
Congratulations to Gerrard on a wonderful career, a true legend who knows what the captain means!!! Big hug Cafu. pic.twitter.com/wJ1ze04JC9
— Cafu. (@officialcafu) November 24, 2016
Steven, brilliant player, World legend. Congratulations for what you did for football! #Gerrard pic.twitter.com/zsskrCEnwN
— Javier Zanetti (@javierzanetti) November 24, 2016
We were rivals and we lived unforgettable finals. Steven Gerrard congratulations on your incredible career. pic.twitter.com/Ux0wK0ZBCE
— Kaka (@KAKA) November 24, 2016
Hoy anuncia que se retira una leyenda del fútbol! Un líder dentro y fuera del campo, enorme Steven Gerrard! pic.twitter.com/CjX3dn2bLB
— Iker Casillas (@IkerCasillas) November 24, 2016
Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, was just looking for a silver lining—more nights down at the pub together!
Sad day for football when a legendary figure like Stevie Gerrard retires from the game. The good news is more nights like this! #legend pic.twitter.com/JBPnPl5lWf
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) November 24, 2016
And if the tributes aren’t enough to confirm Gerrard’s status as one of the club’s all-time greats and one of the best players anywhere in the modern game, perhaps a reminder of some of his best Premier League goals will do the trick.
Steven Gerrard's top 1⃣0⃣ @premierleague goals?
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 24, 2016
Some of the toughest decision-making imaginable!
We've given it our best shot... pic.twitter.com/FbHWwIy94x