January 12, 2012 — LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is set to spend the rest of his career at Anfield after signing a new deal that will involve an ambassadorial role when he stops playing.
The 31-year-old midfielder, who has spent his entire career at Liverpool, signed a new “long-term” deal on Thursday. “This is the club I love and is the club I have supported since I was a young boy,” Gerrard said. “I am living the dream as the captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world. I love coming to work every day and the experiences I have had since I was eight years of age and first signed for the club, I wouldn’t change them for the world.
To extend that and to hopefully have some more good times in a red shirt is what I want.” Gerrard has appeared just 10 times in the first five months of the season because of a groin operation and ankle infection.
But he has scored in three of his past four appearances, with his a penalty kick on Wednesday night clinching a 1-0 victory in the first leg of the League Cup semifinals against Manchester City. “In this day and age, there’s not many people who go through their football career and represent just one club, especially people with quality like Steven,” Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said. “If you’re happy where you’re playing, you’re enjoying what you’re doing and you enjoy the football club, I don’t see any reason to move — and it’s fantastic for us that he hasn’t.
While Gerrard expects to have several years remaining playing at the top level, plans have already been put in place for him to continue being an influence off the pitch in an ambassadorial role when he eventually retires.
“It’s really flattering for me that the club have offered me the chance to stay when I eventually hang my boots up,” the England international said.
