Steven Gerrard, who announced his departure from boyhood club Liverpool on Friday, is a player destined to be remembered as much for his extraordinary achievements as for his agonising near-misses.
The 34-year-old midfielder has captained Liverpool for 12 years, notably lifting the Champions League trophy after an unforgettable comeback against AC Milan in 2005, but coveted successes elsewhere have eluded him.
Although he has also won two FA Cups, three League Cups and the UEFA Cup, among other honours, he has never laid his hands on the Premier League trophy and met with nothing but heartbreak in his 14 years with England.
The last 12 months have reflected the latter years of his career in microcosm — glorious opportunity, followed by crushing disappointment.
Gerrard was poised to capture his first Premier League title last season, but his cruel slip in an April defeat against Chelsea tilted the momentum in the title race in Manchester City’s favour.
Weeks later, after one of the most accomplished seasons of his career, he went to Brazil hoping for a memorable international swansong at the World Cup, only for England to crash out after two matches.
“It’s probably been the worst three months of my life,” he admitted during Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States.
Gerrard has endured more than his fair share of disappointment since inspiring Liverpool to glory in the 2006 FA Cup, with the 2012 League Cup the only major honour he has won since.
He also went close to winning the league title under Rafael Benitez in 2009, when Liverpool looked destined for the championship, only for Manchester United to steam past them in the home straight.
It was a similar story with England, who he represented on 114 occasions and captained at three major tournaments.
His first England goal was a sizzling 25-yard strike in a famous 5-1 win away to Germany in 2001, but his international career thereafter was a succession of false dawns and high-profile failures.
But taken as a whole, in his club career — which began when he walked through the doors of Liverpool’s academy at the age of eight — Gerrard has scaled almost all the heights.
From the header that sparked the comeback to end all comebacks against Milan in Istanbul to the sensational 35-yard thunderbolt that took the 2006 FA Cup final to extra time, he has swaggered through his Anfield career with the audacity of a comic-book hero.
He came third in the voting for the Ballon d’Or in 2005 and was voted the greatest player in Liverpool’s history by fans in a 2013 poll.
No less a judge than Zinedine Zidane observed in 2009: “Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and Ronaldo, but yes, I think he might be.”
No longer the box-to-box game-changer of his pomp, Gerrard has successfully streamlined his game under current Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, sitting in front of the back four and spraying passes around the pitch with unwavering precision.
He will leave Anfield as Liverpool’s third-highest appearance-maker, behind only Ian Callaghan and Jamie Carragher, and with a claim to the title of the club’s greatest-ever player that only Kenny Dalglish can contest.
Fadida
Guest
So did Djimi Traore....
bobbym
Guest
On his way to the red bulls to replace Cahill.
LordBrucie
Guest
Stevie G is a Kop legend and is one of my favourite players but I sincerely hope he goes to play in MLS (an infinitely superior comp) rather than degrading himself in the a league.
LordBrucie
Guest
Love Stevie G and he is a Kop legend but I sincerely hope he goes to the MLS and doesn't degrade himself by playing here in the a league.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
Don't think the irony wasn't lost on the Kop that day, of all the games he won for the club on his own they would have traded them all for him to have kept his footing that day. Still my favourite player.
Fadida
Guest
Agree completely Punter. That slip cost the game, that game the title. Tactically Rodgers got it wrong as well. They didn't need to try and won, and should have picked Chelsea off on the counter. Not sure I'd call him a gentleman either. Google "Gerrard 2 footed" and you'll get some xrated action I'd imagine. He may have stayed faithful but he didn't half flirt and get touchy feely with Cheslea there for a while :) For a man whose club's narrative is its failure to win a title for a generation, that slip will be a legacy. Great player though
punter
Guest
The slip did lose Liverpool the title. Chelsea did not look like scoring & even if Liverpool had drawn the match, they would have still been a point ahead Man City with 2 games to go. With them losing to Chelsea meant they were equal pts with Man City & they Man City had a much better goal difference. Hence why Liverpool chased for more goals against Crystal Palace to close the goal difference & open themselves up to Palace's counter attack that night. Suarez had dragged a decent, but not great Liverpool team to within a whisker of the Title, Gerrard did not particularly have a great year. Shame Suarez wasn't there with Liverpool during Gerrard's peak. Steven Gerrard is indeed a LEGEND & my favourite English player is the last 25 years. A champion who will always be remembered as one of Liverpool's greatest, if not the greatest, leave that up to Liverpool fans to debate. Come to SFC Steven.
AR
Guest
That slip is always heartbreaking to watch...but the man is a legend of Liverpool and a gentleman of the game.
midfielder
Guest
Mariners need some new talent .... OK it is a long shot
jamesb
Guest
Stevie G is a legend. Sad that he is leaving. Didn't win the EPL, but he did win the Champions League.
AZ_RBB
Guest
The bloke won a Champions League, the haters can get......
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
I don't know how we can constitute a "slip" as part of his legacy. For me, the slip wasn't what lost Liverpool the title, so much as the game that followed against Crystal Palace. Liverpool's character will change after Gerrard leaves, and that should be an exciting opportunity for new leaders to emerge. However, there is no doubt that failing to win a domestic title is a gaping hole in an otherwise glittering career at the club.
Fadida
Guest
Great player whose legacy is either Istanbul or that slip :)
swamprat
Roar Pro
Its refreshing to know he stayed loyal to one club in the premiership.