Steven Gerrard announces retirement from football

Former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard, 36 on Thursday announced his retirement from football. Before the announcement, Gerrard had an 18-month spell at MLS with LA Galaxy after he left childhood club Liverpool in 2014.

Gerrard spent almost his entire playing career at Liverpool, where he made 710 appearances, scoring 186 goals. He captained the club to their fifth European Cup triumph in 2005 where he scored a goal in the final against AC Milan.

"Following recent media speculation surrounding my future I can confirm my retirement from playing professional football, Gerrard said in a statement.

"I have had an incredible career and am thankful for each and every moment of my time at Liverpool, England and LA Galaxy.

"As a teenager I fulfilled my childhood dream by pulling on the famous red shirt of Liverpool, and when I made my debut against Blackburn Rovers in November 1998 I could never have imagined what would then follow over the next 18 years" he added.

"I feel lucky to have experienced so many wonderful highlights over the course of my career. I am proud to have played over 700 games for Liverpool, many of which as captain, and to have played my part in helping the club to bring major honours back to Anfield, none more so than that famous night in Istanbul, he added in his statement.

"At international level, I feel privileged to have won 114 England caps and to have had the honour of captaining my country. I will always look back with great pride at every time I pulled on the England shirt. I feel very fortunate to have had the career I've had, but none of it would have been possible without the support of so many people.

"Firstly, I would like to thank everyone at Liverpool Football Club. I am proud to have played for and captained Liverpool for so many years and to have achieved what we achieved during my time at the club."

Gerrard also won two FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup with the Reds. 

He made 114 appearances for England, captaining his country at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.