At the age of 44, Steven Gerrard accumulated 114 caps for the England national team throughout his playing career, sharing the field with notable players such as Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes.
The ongoing discussion regarding who stands out as the best among Gerrard, Scholes, and Frank Lampard remains unresolved.
Nevertheless, when Gerrard was prompted to identify his ideal four-man England midfield—excluding himself—he made an unexpected selection.
During a Twitter Q&A in 2012, Gerrard was inquired:
‘If you could choose a four-man dream England midfield, who would you include alongside yourself?’ He promptly named Manchester United icons David Beckham and Paul Scholes.
However, his third choice surprised many; rather than opting for renowned midfielders like Michael Carrick or Owen Hargreaves, Gerrard chose his former Liverpool colleague, Steve McManaman.
Gerrard and McManaman had played together at Liverpool when Gerrard first joined the senior team in the 1998/99 season, as well as for the national team.
McManaman later departed Liverpool in 1999 to sign with Real Madrid, where he achieved significant success, securing two Champions League titles and two La Liga championships, among other accolades.
Reflecting on his England career, Gerrard, despite serving as captain and surpassing 100 international caps, faced disappointment as the much-anticipated ‘Golden Generation’ failed to secure a major tournament victory and never progressed beyond the quarter-finals.
In a 2014 interview with England.
com following his international retirement, Gerrard shared:
‘I have relished playing with everyone because representing England is a unique experience, and that is what I will miss.
I will not miss the hotels or being away from my family.
However, donning the shirt and representing my country, that feeling of euphoria, is difficult to articulate to anyone who has not lived it.’ He added:
‘I have cherished memories.
Sharing the pitch with some of the remarkable individuals I have mentioned is extraordinary for me—a young boy from.
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.”