Gerrard pursues new challenge after leaving Liverpool

The 34-year-old midfielder confirmed he will leave Liverpool this summer and will find a new destination, where Gerrard does not have to oppose the club he joined as a child.

Steven Gerrard was recruited into the Liverpool Football Academy when he was under nine years old, and has played professionally for his hometown club since 1998. He is not only the captain of the Merseyside club, but also a former England captain.

The star midfielder's contract expires at the end of the current season, and he has decided not to renew despite being offered a contract extension by Liverpool's board since November 2014. He announced the "most difficult decision of his life" in an emotional statement posted on the club's official website on the afternoon of January 2.

Gerrard finds saying goodbye to Liverpool the hardest thing. Photo: LFC.

“Leaving Liverpool has been the hardest decision of my life. My family and I have been thinking about this moment for a long time. I am announcing this today with six months left on my contract so that the manager and the team are not distracted by stories or speculation about my future. Liverpool has been a big part of my life for a long time and it is difficult to say goodbye. But I also feel that my decision to stay or go now is in the best interests of everyone involved, including my family and the whole club,” Gerrard said.

He also spoke about his new destination: “I will continue playing football after saying goodbye to Anfield. Right now I cannot confirm exactly where my next team will be, but I can be sure that it will be somewhere where I will not play for a rival club of Liverpool. I will never play against the club of my hometown, where I have been attached to most of my career. My decision is based entirely on the desire to experience something different from what I have experienced in my career and in life. And I also want to make sure that I will have no regrets when my football career ends. I cannot thank Brendan Rodgers, the board and everyone at the club enough for letting me leave on such great terms. I would also like to thank my teammates and the coaching staff for their help and support.”

“This club is a very special place and I have had the privilege of playing for it. I sincerely hope that one day I can return to serve Liverpool, in whatever capacity I can best help the club. It is important that between now and the end of the season when I play my last game for Liverpool, I give my all, as I have done for so long. I will do my best to help Liverpool win. My final message is to everyone who makes Liverpool one of the world's great football clubs - the fans. It has been a privilege to represent Liverpool as a player and captain. I have loved every moment of playing for Liverpool and I want to finish this season on a high note,” Gerrard said in a statement.

Gerrard is likely to join the MLS, playing for Los Angeles Galaxy - a place that will give him a completely new football experience and not have to play against Liverpool. Photo: Reuters.

Out of respect for the club he has played for since he was eight, Gerrard will not be playing for another Premier League club. But he will certainly receive attractive offers from elsewhere, and currently LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls (both from the US) are said by the British media to be the two clubs leading the race to sign the midfielder, who will turn 35 on May 30.

However, LA Galaxy have so far refused to reveal whether Gerrard will join them to play in the US Major League Soccer. The club's president, Chris Klein, told the LA Times: "We have not yet had any certainty about this. We cannot comment on players who are not members of the Galaxy."

Gerrard has had a glittering career at Anfield. Premier League glory has eluded him, including a title win last season, when Liverpool were just two points behind Manchester City. But Gerrard was the man who inspired Liverpool's stunning comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final. However, as he approaches 35, he has been warned by Liverpool that he will no longer be playing every game from next season. And the club have only recently offered him a contract for the 2015-16 season, with terms that are no longer as attractive as before.

Gerrard's career at Liverpool- 695 matches, 180 goals.

Number of titles:1 Champions League, 2 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 1 UEFA Cup, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 1 Community Shield.

Gerrard's scoring record at Liverpool

Premier League: 494 games, 116 goals.

FA Cup: 39 games, 13 goals

League Cup: 28 matches, 9 goals

Champions League: 87 matches, 30 goals

UEFA Cup/Europa League: 42 games, 11 goals.

Other: 5 matches, 1 goal.

Total: 695 matches, 180 goals.

Gerrard's personal titles:

Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year: 2006

Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year: 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014.

Footballer of the Year, as voted by the British Sports Journalists' Association: 2009

Premier League Player of the Month: February 2001, March 2003, December 2004, April 2006, March 2014.

Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2005

UEFA Club Player of the Year: 2005

According to VNE