Quotes on Steven Gerrard. A thread.

"There was a point when Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. It is unusual to get complete midfield players who can do everything, but that is what he was.”

-Zinedine Zidane

“Steven Gerrard would be the captain of my World XI dream team. Gerrard is a complete player because he can play in every position and can do everything with a football at any time in a game. He’s a player who scores goals, who builds the play, he’s a sensational player.”

-Totti

"I like Gerrard. Because we had this challenge between ourselves in 2005 and 2007, I really admire him. Of course, Lampard was pretty amazing, Scholes the classic. But I'll have Gerrard."

-Kaká

“He has become the most influential player in England, bar none. Not that Vieira lacks anything, but Gerrard does more.”

-Sir Alex Ferguson

"It was a disgrace he didn't win European Footballer of the Year after Istanbul in 2005 and, for me, he will be regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time."

-Thierry Henry

"The fans, they look only for forwards, always a forward. Somebody who scores. Sometimes you have a player like Gerrard. For me, for the last five years Gerrard has been the best player in the world.”

-Pelé

"Ancelotti said to me, 'I want to sign Gerrard to play next to you - what do you think?' Without any hesitation I told him, 'Do it - go and sign him.'

At this stage he was probably the most complete midfield player in Europe, of course I wanted to partner him.”

-Andrea Pirlo

“What I have always liked of Steven is that on the pitch he was very quiet, but was capable of inspiring all his team-mates with great strength. The real example, and that is what I've learned from players like Steven and Franco Baresi, is to do rather than talk.”

-Paolo Maldini

“I tried to bring him to Chelsea, I tried to bring him to Inter, I tried to bring him to Real Madrid, but he was always a dear enemy. I was dreaming of having Claude Makelele, Gerrard and Frank Lampard in midfield.”

-José Mourinho

“In my opinion he’s in the top three midfielders in the world. I heard what Alex Ferguson said about him being better than me. He’s probably right. Gerrard is England’s best player and he single-handedly got Liverpool into the Champions League.”

-Patrick Vieira

“I’m spoilt having a team-mate like Gerrard as I can count on him supplying me with perfect passes. You make the run into the space and however tightly marked he is, he finds a way to get the ball through in perfect condition.”

-Fernando Torres

“There are a small number of players in the world that are irreplaceable, and Steven is one of them. Not just irreplaceable as a player but also as a captain, and what he represents for Liverpool.”

-Luis Suárez

"I think Steven Gerrard is a fantastic player. He has been loyal to his club, he has won some big trophies with the club. He feels more an international player rather than a normal English player.”

-Zlatan Ibrahimović

“Steven Gerrard is definitely one of the best I’ve seen”

-Pep Guardiola

“I’d have to say Stevie [was the best England team-mate]. For me he’s an incredible player, an incredible leader. He helped me a lot during my early days with England.”

-Wayne Rooney

“Personally, I think Gerrard is England’s greatest ever player. I wish him a happy retirement.”

-Lionel Messi

“He’ll absolutely be remembered as one of the greats. There are so many things [that are good about Steven Gerrard]. He is so inspirational. In the key moments he has that difference – a spark that is difficult to define.”

-Xabi Alonso

“He had everything. If you got him on his day, you can almost forget about it because he was so powerful as player. He has everything, other than the aggressive side, he had top ability. He was a great all round midfield player.” 

-Frank Lampard

“One of my toughest but most sporting opponents. An example on and off the pitch.”

-Alessandro Nesta

He’s definitely one of the best. Such a strong powerful player. He could get from box-to-box, score great goals, match-winning goals and carried his team for quite a while when he could’ve moved and possibly gone on to win the league.”

-Paul Scholes

“It was a pleasure to play against Steven Gerrard. He is a fantastic player.”

-Cristiano Ronaldo

“He’s been a reference to all his team-mates throughout the years and is now in history for such a brilliant career at his club for all his life.” 

-Iker Casillas

“I would pay to watch Steven Gerrard.”

-Cesc Fàbregas

“Gerrard is the heartbeat of the Liverpool team and he’s from Liverpool. Imagine being captain of your hometown team! Liverpool were very difficult to play against with Gerrard because he covers so much space.”

-Samuel Eto’o

“A wonderful player. I can’t think of another player who can deliver a shot with such perfection & beauty. Such a versatile performer: good at winning the ball from opponents, always trying to create something for team-mates, and lethal when he shoots on goal.”

-Marcel Desailly

“I really love Gerrard. He is someone I have a real soft spot for. He has everything. I love the way he plays. He’s an inspirational leader, he scores goals, he plays great passes, he runs powerfully, he tackles, the lot. Stevie is just brilliant, complete player.” 

-David Villa

“For me, in the position he plays, he is one of the very best in the world. For the job he performs, for me he is one of the greatest.”

-Ronaldinho

“In my own position, I was crazy about him. I remember in the Champions League final comeback by Liverpool against Milan, you saw him up front, on the wings, and a moment later he was back, marking the playmaker. I have never seen such a complete midfielder.”

-Claudio Marchisio

“One of the greatest midfield players. An all-rounder, a player who can do everything: pass, tackle, shoot, dribble, run. I also appreciate his humility. For me, that’s a sign of greatness. Inspirational.” 

-Emmanuel Petit

"Gerrard has been my idol for 10 years and is one of the best players in the world. He is the example of what all midfield players aspire to.”

-Daniele De Rossi

“When I played at Everton, Everton fans hate Liverpool players and Liverpool fans, but Steven Gerrard is the one player everybody had respect for on both sides. Everybody in the Premier League has so much respect for him.” 

-Landon Donovan

“Stevie, if I had to sum him up in one word, it would be ‘class’. Just class.”

-Gérard Houllier

"I think he had the qualities that every midfielder dreams to have. He could score goals, he could cross the field, he could shoot from distance, he could cross the ball, he could dribble, he had pace, he had commitment, motivation. He was a massive player.”

-Arsène Wenger

“A world-class midfielder, Gerrard loves to lead by example and is famous for his never-say-die attitude. He loves to run at and beat defenders, and is blessed with a powerful and precise shot.”

-Andriy Shevchenko

“I love Gerrard’s qualities as a player and a leader. Technically and tactically he is the best.” 

-Guus Hiddink

“I was fortunate enough to have played in some of the great Liverpool teams, teams that dominated Europe and won everything, but I can honestly say that Steven Gerrard would have gotten into any of those teams.”

-Graeme Souness

“In terms of an influence on one club, you’d probably say Gerrard has been the best in the Premier League.”

-Phil Neville

“I think of him as being at the same level as Pirlo. Vision, technique, but he is powerful as well. Stevie can do anything. It’s going to be very difficult for the team to find another player like him in the future.”

-Mario Balotelli

"He has certainly made a huge contribution to the club but he wouldn’t be far away from being mentioned as the best player [in Liverpool history]."

-King Kenny

“An all-round midfielder who can do anything and everything.”

-Sven-Göran Eriksson