LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has signed a long-term extension to his contract, tying him to his boyhood club for the rest of his playing career. There was no mention of the length of the contract in Liverpool’s official statement, but the club did say it was a “long-term” deal and that he also agreed to take up an ambassadorial role at the club after he retires from playing.
“I’m very happy,” Gerrard, 31, told the club website. “It’s a very proud day for myself and my family. This is the club I love and is the club I have supported since I was a young boy. 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.
“It’s really flattering for me that the club have offered me the chance to stay when I eventually hang my boots up. Hopefully that will be in many years to come because I want to play for as long as I can.
“I’ll know myself when it’s time to hang my boots up and then hopefully I can stay involved with the club and set the right example for youngsters coming through.”
England midfielder Gerrard came through the youth system at Anfield and has played over 550 senior matches for the club.
He penned the new deal the day after his penalty fired the Reds to a 1-0 Carling Cup semi-final first-leg win over Manchester City.
“It comes on the back of a fantastic team performance last night when we got the result we were looking for,” he added. “Hopefully we can finish the job off in two weeks time and take all of our magnificent fans down to Wembley for a day out.
“The contract extension coming the day after has been the icing on the cake so it has been a perfect 24 hours.”