Steven Gerrard

[font:f5d2= Andalus][color:f5d2=black][size=24][i][u][b]Steven Gerrard[/b][/u][/i][/size][/color][/font]

Steven George Gerrard MBE (born 30 May 1980, Whiston, Merseyside) is an English football player. He is the captain of Liverpool, where he wears the number 8 shirt. He has been called an influential and versatile midfielder,[3][4] and is known for his long-range shots. He is usually employed in the "box-to-box" midfield role, although he has often been deployed as a right-sided midfielder, and occasionally as a second striker. During his career he has won the PFA Young Player of the Year, PFA Player of the Year, PFA Fans' Player of the Year, European Midfielder of the Year, Premier League Most Valuable Player (twice), and Most Valuable Player. He has also been awarded the MBE for his contributions to football. He has been nominated three times for the FIFA World Player of the Year, in 2005, 2006 and 2007. On 5 February 2008, it was announced he had been voted by fans as the Nationwide England Player of the Year for 2007.

[size=24][u][i][b]Personal life[/b][/i][/u][/size]

Gerrard is married to Alex Curran, and the couple have two daughters: Lilly-Ella Gerrard (born 23 February 2004) and Lexie Gerrard (born 9 May 2006).[citation needed] They married at Cliveden mansion in Buckinghamshire on 16 June 2007; the same day as the weddings of England team-mates Gary Neville and Michael Carrick.[39] He has an older brother named Paul (not to be confused with former Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard) and his parents are divorced.[citation needed] His cousin Anthony Gerrard plays for Walsall.

In September 2006, Gerrard published an autobiography, entitled Gerrard: My Autobiography ,which went on to win the Sports Book of the Year honour in the British Book Awards.

[size=24][u][b]Career honours/achievements
Team honours with Liverpool:[/b][/u][/size]

FA Premier League:
Runner-up (1): 2001-02
FA Cup:
Winner (2): 2001, 2006
League Cup:
Winner (2): 2001, 2003
Runner-up (1): 2005
FA Community Shield:
Winner (2): 2001, 2006
Runner-up (1): 2002
UEFA Champions League:
Winner (1): 2004-05
Runner-up (1): 2006-07
UEFA Cup:
Winner (1): 2001
UEFA Super Cup:
Winner (2): 2001, 2005
FIFA World Club Championship:
Runner-up (1): 2005

[size=24][u][i][b]Personal Awards:[/b][/i][/u][/size]

Honarary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University: 2008
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE): 2007
UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2005
UEFA Team of the Year: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07
UEFA Champions League Most Valuable Player: 2004-05
Ballon d'Or Third Place: 2005
FIFPro World XI: 2006-07
England Fans' Player of the Year[46]: 2007
Liverpool FC Fans' Player of the Year: 2000-01, 2005-06, 2007-08
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2005-06
PFA Young Player of the Year: 2000-01
PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2000-01
PFA Team of the Year: 2000-01, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08
Match of the Day Goal of the Season: 2006 FA Cup Final
BBC Sports Personality of the Year: Third place, 2005
FA Premier League Player of the Month: March 2001, March 2003, December 2004, April 2006

On 13 December 2006, councillors of Knowsley voted to make him a Freeman of the Borough. He is the first person to receive the honour since 1988, joining other luminaries including former Labour Party Prime Minister Lord Wilson.

On 29 December 2006 Gerrard was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by The Queen in her New Year Honours List, for services to sport.

On 1 October 2007 he had a low-speed car accident in his BMW X5, knocking down a 10-year-old boy who ran into the road outside Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in Southport. Gerrard later visited the boy and handed him football boots signed by the boy's favourite player, Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, who is Gerrard's England teammate.

On 11 December 2007, Gerrard's house was burgled whilst he was away for an UEFA Champions League match against, Marseille.

Gerrard received an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University on 26 July 2008 as recognition for his contribution to sport