Former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who earned 114 international caps, has opened up about why the immensely talented England squad of his era failed to win a major men’s international tournament.
The Failure to Connect
Gerrard, alongside stars like Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, and John Terry, was part of a generation that consistently failed to progress past the quarter-finals. Gerrard places the blame squarely on a lack of team unity caused by intense club rivalries.
- Club Divisions: Players from rival clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool failed to “connect” as a team off the pitch.
- Ego and Rivalry: Gerrard admitted the players were “all egotistical losers” and confirmed that the lack of success was due to the players not being “friendly or connected.”
- “Group of Individuals”: He concluded that England “were a group of individuals with talent and it never works like that,” expressing a “big frustration” that they never did better given the talent available.
Praising Gareth Southgate
Gerrard contrasted his generation’s culture with that of the recent England squad, which reached the final of the last two European Championships. He believes the talent was always there, but the necessary cohesion was not.
- Connecting the Team: Gerrard credited Gareth Southgate as “underrated for how he connected with the England team,” suggesting Southgate successfully created the team environment his own generation lacked.
- Managerial Change: Following Southgate’s departure after the Euro 2024 final loss, Thomas Tuchel has taken charge of England ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Gerrard’s Management Ambitions
Despite poor recent spells at Aston Villa and Al Ettifaq, the 45-year-old expressed a desire to return to the dugout, but only for the right opportunity.
- “Unfinished Business”: Gerrard feels there is a “part of me that still feels that there’s a bit of unfinished business.”
- Desired Challenge: He insists he will only accept a job that allows him to “compete to win,” stating that this type of environment “suits me better.”
- Next Potential Role: He is currently reported to be among the favourites for a return to Rangers, the club he previously led to the Scottish Premiership title in 2020/21.
Source: Super Sports
