Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard has been one of the best players England has produced in a long time. He has skill, pace, power, vision, and a great long range shot. These things however, are not the only things that make him a good professional player. Gerrard goes into the small category of players who care more about soccer than money. Unlike most other snobbish superstars of the modern game, he is down to earth. He has a happy family with two kids, and he has the right mentality about life and superstardom that many other celebrities should follow.

Gerrard’s motivation for playing soccer makes him my hero. His biography ends with the words “I play for Jon-Paul.” This statement refers to the fact that his motivation comes from the death of a cousin who got killed in 1989. The tragedy happened during a soccer match. The violence involved fans of the team he currently plays for, Liverpool FC. Playing to honor someone is something that is rare in football. Only a few number of players dedicate their skill and ability for someone or something they love.

Gerrard also provides motivation for his teammates and fans. In the legendary UEFA Champions League final of 2005 everyone watching the match witnessed Gerrard leading his team to an amazing comeback from three goals down, playing against one of the best teams in the world. AC Milan were the opponents, and they had players like Kaka, Pirlo, and Shevchenko. The Milan team looked amazing as they scored three goals in the first half. Gerrard's Liverpool teammates and fans looked gloomy and down, but he led by example and scored the first goal. After the goal, Gerrard was seen waving his teammates on and gesturing for the fans to cheer louder. His goal and actions led to an amazing comeback. Liverpool scored three goals against Milan and went on to win the trophy.

Another quality Gerrard possesses is loyalty to his team. Loyalty is a fast disappearing concept in the soccer world. Players will gladly leave a team to join a better team or a team that offers more money. In such a world, there are still a few players like Gerrard who stay loyal. Steven Gerrard has been playing for the same team since joining them in his early teens. Unlike players who leave a team after a couple of seasons, Gerrard has stuck with Liverpool through thick and thin for over 10 years. Teams regularly try to tempt him with big money offers, but he rejects them, proving his loyalty to Liverpool.

It is hard to find a role model in a sport where an average player can earn millions of dollars. Many of them are photographed buying lavish products and living a celebrity's life. Amongst the multi-millionaires, there are a few rare gems like Steven Gerrard, whose examples we can all follow. Traits like working hard, being down-to-earth, and loyalty distinguish Steven Gerrard from other soccer players. These things make him my hero, and I hope to be just like him some day.