Steven Gerrard Retires from International Duty

[Guest Magic]

Perhaps not unexpected, but it has been officially confirmed today:

 

England captain Steven Gerrard has retired from international football after winning 114 caps.

Gerrard, 34, won his first cap in a 2-0 win over Ukraine in 2000 and played for the last time at the 2014 World Cup in a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica.

"I have enjoyed every minute of representing my country. It's a sad day for me," the Liverpool midfielder said.

 

Gerrard will now assume a "high profile" ambassadorial role with the Football Association.

 

The England midfielder scored 21 times and represented his country at six major tournaments.

 

"It was a very difficult decision to make. It's something I have been contemplating for a long time, not just since the end of the World Cup," Gerrard added.

 

"I've had to take an awful lot of advice from people who are close to me - players that I still play with, ex-players who I played with a long time ago, managers who I played for years ago.

 

"It's been a really tough decision, certainly one of the toughest since I turned professional at 18."

 

England manager Roy Hodgson said: "While I'm disappointed in the decision, I can entirely understand Steven's situation and can have no complaints given the incredible service he has given to his country.

 

"I must respect his wishes due to the discussions we have had and the amount of thought and consideration he himself has given it."

 

Gerrard will continue his club career with Liverpool, with whom he made his debut in 1998 against Blackburn Rovers.

He has played at Anfield his entire career - winning the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

 

So. Good thing for England? Bad thing? And more importantly as he was captain, who replaces him as skipper?

 

I think its the right time. At 34, time to move on towards the younger generation and I honestly believe keeping him around would halt progress. He's not the player he was and I would rather (if I was an England manager) look to bed in young players over the next two years for the Euros.

 

Tough question on who takes the armband though. I wouldn't give it to Rooney, although I suspect Roy probably will. I have no doubt the media will be clamouring for Rooney to take over. There's not a lot of choice though. I think I would genuinely pick Joe Hart, which is a tad worrying.

[King 277]

Great news for Liverpool, the World Cup proved he needs to be played in a certain role and if so he will always perform.

 

Rooney is odds on to get the armband, seeing as he's going to miss out on the Utd one :lol

[Guest John Hancock]

Yeah, Rooney seems the obvious choice for captain. I think his retirement after the World Cup was inevitable, he should be one of many.

[King 277]

Lampard surely or is he gone already??, hell even Rooney should think about it at this stage.

[Guest John Hancock]

I was going to ask about Lampard, but I convinced myself he's already gone. He's about 67, so it's not like he even needs to officially retire.

[Guest Magic]

I don't think Lampard announced anything official, it's just kinda been unspokenly accepted that he's done as an England player. Unless I totally missed an announcement in which case, silly me :lol

[King 277]

I thought he did or maybe I just assumed he did.

[Guest bigmatt]

After the Costa Rica game he was asked straight out at pitch side and he replied that he didn't know and was going to go on holiday and think about it. I don't know if there have been any subsequent developments though.

[BRM 220]

Joe Hart should get it for me.

[Guest Boyo]

I don't think there's much captain material at all in the England ranks to be honest. I certainly wouldn't give it to Rooney, and I just don't like the cut of Joe Hart's jib, although he seems to command a hell of a lot of respect in the dressing room, so he's a logical choice.

 

For me I'd give the armband to Phil Jagielka, as I like him. He's a gobby-on-the-pitch yet steady sort. Alternatively, I'd consider Adam Lallana for the role. He's been Southampton captain for about 30 years, and he's only 26.

 

Cheers!

[Guest bigmatt]

For me I'd give the armband to Phil Jagielka, as I like him. He's a gobby-on-the-pitch yet steady sort. Alternatively, I'd consider Adam Lallana for the role.

 

Will Phil even be in the team? He's 32 next month.

[Guest Magic]

I'm not sure I would start Jags or Lallana regularly, so while there probably good choices from a characteristic point of view, there's no point if they don't play. If Hodgson plans on using them then I guess fair enough, but I wouldn't be. It's really tough actually which is why I suggested Hart. I think he's the best of a very limited bunch.

 

Rooney is pretty much guaranteed it now though, which I just can't see be going for them long term.

[Guest Boyo]

For me I'd give the armband to Phil Jagielka, as I like him. He's a gobby-on-the-pitch yet steady sort. Alternatively, I'd consider Adam Lallana for the role.

 

Will Phil even be in the team? He's 32 next month.

Cripes, I thought he was about 27 :lol.

 

Cheers!

[Guest bigmatt]

Cripes, I thought he was about 27 :lol.

 

Yeah, it's a weird one. He's played in eight different seasons for Sheffield United and seven for Everton (they don't overlap either he moved to Everton in the summer break) and he made his professional début in 2000! Time is a sod.

 

Anyway, here's Gerrard's FA video explaining his decision:

 

[video=youtube;_E297xPyc78]