Born a Red, will die a Red - Open letter to Steven Gerrard on his Anfield departure

Steven Gerrard’s Anfield exit came as a shock to Liverpool fans across the globe

Dear Steven Gerrard,

To this day, I still remember the first Liverpool game I watched. It was the League Cup final in 2003. I knew of a blond bloke with long hair playing for Manchester United, but I did not know about a tall lanky player wearing the No.17 kit for Liverpool. I remember him scoring the first goal in that final from outside the box and then, when the cameras focused on him I read his name for the first time. The name was ‘Gerrard’.

I got to see so many spectacular efforts like the one you scored in 2003. In fact, your goal against Olympiacos which sent us through to the next round of Champions League still gives me goose bumps.

Then there was that game in 2005, which etched your name in Liverpool folklore forever. That magical night in Istanbul! There was very little hope after we went three nil down, but you showed us we should never give up.

The way you rose above the Milan defense and scored our first of the night still sends shivers down the spine of each and every Liverpool fan and when you waved at the fans asking to lift the atmosphere inside the stadium, we knew we were in for something special. You played that final like there was no tomorrow and you made what seemed impossible at one point a reality. There was no miracle at Istanbul, there was just a man inspiring other men to a victory.

There are so many instances when you bailed us out of trouble and I may not remember them all, but I will definitely not forget the FA Cup final in 2006. You soldiered on with an injury and scored an unbelievable goal in the dying minutes of the game to take it to extra time.

Oh! Captain – How will we ever thank you for what you’ve done for us?

Being a Liverpool fan is difficult, we’ve seen the likes of Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez leave us when we needed them to move forward with the club. All of their departures left a wound in our hearts, but those wounds have healed. But when we read that you will no longer be a Liverpool player after the current season, a part inside us died.

Steven Gerrard will remain a legend in the hearts of Liverpool fans forever

You could have left us when clubs like Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich came for you, but you decided to stay back and help the club. You’ve single-handedly helped the club rise above the mediocrity that surrounded you during our toughest years.

I’ve seen many people kiss the club’s crest and celebrate, but no one does it with the passion and honesty that you have shown.

When Kenny Dalglish finished his playing career, we wondered if we would ever see a player greater that the King himself? Well, we did and you will go down in the history books as the greatest and most passionate player to have worn the famous Liverpool Red.

You do not owe the club anything because you’ve given us more than we could ever ask for. But we owe you a lifetime of gratitude and we are sorry that you will be leaving Liverpool without winning the League title. You could have easily joined other clubs and won every honour possible, but you stayed with us through the thick and thin, and we will never forget that.

A true scouser, born and bred, started at Liverpool as a kid and became a star. Stories of your heroics against Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Olympiacos, Arsenal, Napoli, West Ham and many more teams will be told to the future generations.

On the field, you have been a fighter and an inspiration and off of it, you have been an honest and humble human being.

It will be difficult to watch Liverpool play without you leading them and it will be even more difficult to see the Number 8 without ‘Gerrard’ written on the back of it. But, we hope that one day you will return to the Liverpool dugout in a new role.

You are our pride; you have defined the word passion, you have shown us what dedication is, you are the epitome of loyalty, devotion and commitment; you are the true leader and you are Mr. Liverpool. You’ve taught us more lessons in life than any classroom. We are proud and lucky to have supported Liverpool when you played for the club. It has been a pleasure and privilege watching you play.

You have put a smile on the face of us fans for 16 years and today you have made grown adults cry like babies. There is only so much that words can say, and I only wish you could hear what millions of Liverpool fans have to say to you.

Thank You, Steven George Gerrard for everything you have done for us, nobody will have the same stature you have amongst us fans. Hopefully, we will be able to give you a fitting farewell.

You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Signed

A die hard Liverpool fan and worshipper of Steven Gerrard.