Steven Gerrard, now 44, earned 114 caps for England during his playing career, sharing the pitch with stars like Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes.
The long-standing debate over who was the best among Gerrard, Scholes, and Frank Lampard continues with no definitive answer in sight. However, when Gerrard was asked to name his dream four-man England midfield — excluding himself — he made a surprising choice.
During a Twitter Q&A session in 2012, Gerrard was asked: “If you could pick a four-man dream England midfield, who would you put in there alongside yourself?”
He immediately selected Manchester United legends David Beckham and Paul Scholes. But his third pick caught many off guard: instead of choosing high-profile midfielders like Michael Carrick or Owen Hargreaves, Gerrard selected his former Liverpool teammate, Steve McManaman.
Gerrard and McManaman had played together at Liverpool when Gerrard first broke into the senior team during the 1998/99 season, as well as for England. McManaman would later leave Liverpool in 1999 to join Real Madrid, where he enjoyed immense success, winning two Champions League titles and two La Liga crowns, among other honors.
Gerrard Reflects on His England Career
Despite captaining England and surpassing 100 international appearances, Gerrard’s time with the national team ended in disappointment, with the much-hyped ‘Golden Generation’ failing to win a major tournament and never advancing past the quarter-finals.
Speaking to England.com in 2014 after his international retirement, Gerrard reflected:
“I’ve enjoyed playing with everyone because to run out with England is a special feeling, and that’s what I’ll miss. I won’t miss the hotels or being away from my family. But putting the shirt on and representing my country, that feeling of euphoria, is hard to describe to anyone who hasn’t experienced it.”
He continued:
“I have great memories. To share the pitch with some of the incredible names I’ve mentioned is phenomenal for me — a young lad from a council estate who only ever dreamed of playing once for England. To have played so many times and alongside such legends is something I’ll always cherish.”
