Gerrard vows to stay at Anfield
Gerrard joined Liverpool as a trainee at the age of nine
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he wants to end his career at Anfield.
The 28-year-old midfielder has two-and-a-half years to run on his deal but is keen to commit his future to the Reds.
"Hopefully I will sign another one and stay for the remainder of my career," Gerrard, who made his first-team debut 10 years ago, told the club website.
"I don't know what's going to happen over the next 10 years but certainly for the next five or six I hope I'm playing in Liverpool's first team."
Gerrard will miss Saturday's match against Fulham with a torn groin muscle which also makes him doubtful for the Champions League clash with Marseille next week.
He turned down an offer to move to Chelsea in 2005 a few months after helping Liverpool claim the Champions League title. The following season the inspirational skipper scored twice as Liverpool lifted the FA Cup.
"If someone had said 10 years ago that I would go on to be captain and lift the European Cup then I wouldn't have believed them," Gerrard added.
"But I've had to work very hard to get to where I am and to win trophies both on a personal level and as part of the team.
"I'm very proud to be able to say I have played for the first team for 10 years."
Gerrard is already contemplating continuing his career in football when he retires; saying "I certainly want to get my qualifications to enable me to coach and manage.
"We'll have to wait and see about management. Whether I'll be interested in the Gary Ablett (Liverpool reserve coach) role, the Sammy Lee (Liverpool assistant manager) role or the Rafa Benitez role, I don't know."
Benitez believes Gerrard, who signed a professional contract with the Reds when he was 17, already has what it takes to succeed him as manager.
"I am really pleased to have kept Gerrard here, and maybe he will one day be the manager to replace me," he said.
"There are more important things than money in Steven's mind. He has great passion for the club, he loves the club and the city.
"That is the key as far as he is concerned, and hopefully he will take over from me.
"Everyone can see how good he is on the pitch. As a person he is a nice lad, you can see his commitment to the club. Everything is positive and hopefully he can win more trophies."
Gerrard joined Liverpool as a trainee at the age of nine
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he wants to end his career at Anfield.
The 28-year-old midfielder has two-and-a-half years to run on his deal but is keen to commit his future to the Reds.
"Hopefully I will sign another one and stay for the remainder of my career," Gerrard, who made his first-team debut 10 years ago, told the club website.
"I don't know what's going to happen over the next 10 years but certainly for the next five or six I hope I'm playing in Liverpool's first team."
Gerrard will miss Saturday's match against Fulham with a torn groin muscle which also makes him doubtful for the Champions League clash with Marseille next week.
He turned down an offer to move to Chelsea in 2005 a few months after helping Liverpool claim the Champions League title. The following season the inspirational skipper scored twice as Liverpool lifted the FA Cup.
"If someone had said 10 years ago that I would go on to be captain and lift the European Cup then I wouldn't have believed them," Gerrard added.
"But I've had to work very hard to get to where I am and to win trophies both on a personal level and as part of the team.
"I'm very proud to be able to say I have played for the first team for 10 years."
Gerrard is already contemplating continuing his career in football when he retires; saying "I certainly want to get my qualifications to enable me to coach and manage.
"We'll have to wait and see about management. Whether I'll be interested in the Gary Ablett (Liverpool reserve coach) role, the Sammy Lee (Liverpool assistant manager) role or the Rafa Benitez role, I don't know."
Benitez believes Gerrard, who signed a professional contract with the Reds when he was 17, already has what it takes to succeed him as manager.
"I am really pleased to have kept Gerrard here, and maybe he will one day be the manager to replace me," he said.
"There are more important things than money in Steven's mind. He has great passion for the club, he loves the club and the city.
"That is the key as far as he is concerned, and hopefully he will take over from me.
"Everyone can see how good he is on the pitch. As a person he is a nice lad, you can see his commitment to the club. Everything is positive and hopefully he can win more trophies."
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