Jesus. Remember when Stevie G slipped against Chelsea and Liverpool's title hopes went down the drain? That moment still haunts me at 3am sometimes. But I digress.
Our beloved Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has finally opened up about what the hell he's planning to do next after walking away from that Saudi gig at Al-Ettifaq. And honestly? The man sounds relieved to be free from the whole circus.
The Saudi Experiment That Fizzled Out
Gerrard bailed on Al-Ettifaq back in January after what must've been a grueling 18 months. The team was hovering just five points above relegation when he left. Not exactly the glamorous post-Liverpool career he probably imagined while lifting the Champions League trophy back in 2005.
I watched a couple of those Al-Ettifaq matches last year. Painful stuff. The kind that makes you question why you dedicated your life to following this sport.
What's a football legend supposed to do with all this... freedom?
Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast (which, by the way, is bloody brilliant), Gerrard basically admitted he's enjoying the hell out of normal life right now: "I don't want to be back in work, not at the moment. I've just come out, so I am happy waking up, being free, doing the family stuff and being free from teh stress."
Can you blame him?
The man continued, "I will go back in at some point but when it is round the clock for 18 months, I just want to be free and do normal things that you can't do when you are coaching like a game of golf or go down the boozer."
Imagine Stevie G just showing up at your local pub for a pint. My mate Dave swears this happened to him in 2018, but he's full of BS most of the time so I never believed him.
The void nothing can fill
Listen. The most revealing part of this whole interview was when Gerrard admitted that coaching just doesn't give him the same rush as playing did. "I miss it everyday, every single day, I would love to run it back and do it all again," he confessed.
That's the thing about these legends – they spend their whole lives chasing that high of playing at the top level, adn when it's gone... what then? My dad (lifelong Liverpool supporter) texted me after this interview: "Poor Stevie. Nothing compares to being on the pitch." Dad would know – he played semi-pro until his knee exploded in '87.
Championship Rumors? Not So Fast...
There were whispers linking him to jobs at Derby County and Blackburn in the Championship. I actually put $40 on him taking the Derby job with my smartass colleague who insisted he'd never drop down to that level.
Looks like I'm out forty bucks.
Gerrard seems pretty content just being "stress free" for now. And who wouldn't be after the pressure cooker of managing in Saudi Arabia? The cultural adjustment alone must've been like a ghost at a family reunion – awkward and impossible to ignore.
The Regret That Lingers
Perhaps the most human moment from the interview was Gerrard admitting: "Don't get me wrong it is a great job to still be around it, but in terms of the buzz of playing, I didn't appreciate it enough."
God. If that doesn't sum up life in general, I don't know what does. We never truly appreciate what we have until it's gone. Gerrard dominated midfields across Europe for nearly two decades, and even he didn't fully grasp how special it was.
Makes you wonder what the rest of us are taking for granted right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to the Premier League teams that finish in the bottom half?
The bottom three teams in each Premier League are relegated, and this is done at the end of every season. The Championship, or second tier, of English football, takes their place. In their place, two of the top teams from the Championship and the winner of Championship playoffs will be promoted to the Premier League.
Do Premier League clubs have any financial regulations?
Yes, the Premier League has financial regulations, known as Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, intended to prevent clubs from spending beyond their means and to promote financial stability. These rules require that clubs limit their losses and make sure they do not outspend their revenues from football activities. These regulations are designed to encourage clubs to spend responsibly and maintain balance within their league.
How does the Premier League impact the English national team?
The Premier League plays a significant role in the development of English football talent. Many players from the league are selected for the English national team, contributing to international competitions with their skills and experience. The league's competitive nature and the quality of its players are believed to benefit the national team. The high number and quality of foreign players in the league has led to debates about how this affects English players' opportunities to get regular first team football.
Can you explain the concept of the 'Big Six' in the Premier League?
The term 'Big Six" refers to the Premier League clubs that have been most influential and successful in recent years. Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur are typically on the list. These teams are renowned for their consistently high performances, large fan bases, financial prowess and frequent qualification for European competitions including the UEFA Champions League & UEFA Europa League.
What makes up the Premier League?
The Premier League is distinguished from other European leagues by several factors, including its global appeal, financial strength, and competitive depth. The league has a vast international audience and lucrative television rights deals. Premier League teams are known to be unpredictable. They can win on any given day, even if they're not ranked high. The fast-paced game and the intense atmosphere of stadiums also add to the uniqueness of the Premier League.
Statistics
- Ryan Giggs holds the distinction of scoring in 21 consecutive Premier League seasons, marking consistency seldom seen in such a demanding league.
- Manchester United holds the record for the most Premier League titles, having been crowned champions 20 times.
- Durability is exemplified by Gareth Barry who made an impressive 653 Premier League appearances, the highest number to date.
- Petr Čech set a remarkable defensive record during the 2004-2005 season with 24 clean sheets, the most by a goalkeeper in a single Premier League season.
- Arsenal boasts an unbeaten streak of 49 Premier League matches from May 2003 to October 2004, the longest in the history of the league.
External Links
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Premier League Standings explained
Understanding Premier League Standings is crucial to tracking the progress of this season. The Premier League table is ranked by total points. A win earns three points; a draw gets one, and a loss does not. If teams are level on points, goal difference (goals scored minus goals conceded) is the first tiebreaker, followed by goals scored. The table can give you an idea of who will be the champion, qualify for European tournaments or even face relegation.
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