Showing posts with label Bruce Arena. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bruce Arena. Show all posts

Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Gerrard Returns to Red Galaxy


Steven Gerrard has trained with Liverpool for the first time since leaving his boyhood club to join LA Galaxy.

Gerrard ended a 27-year association with Liverpool in January when he announced an 18-month deal with Galaxy worth around £4m a year though he later said he would have stayed with the club had he been offered a coaching role.

The Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp had appeared to hold open that prospect recently when he said: “Of course our doors are always open for him, that is clear. Stevie has a contract with LA Galaxy, he loves this club and he is a legend and when his contract has ended we can talk about different stuff.”

Gerrard, 35, who is back in England during Major League Soccer’s off-season, had said: “I’m going to go in for a couple of weeks and work with Mr Klopp so I’m really looking forward to that, to see what he’s about and try and learn a few things from him.”

Klopp, however, has ruled out any suggestion of Gerrard rejoining in a playing role, adding: “He’s a Liverpool legend, of course, but his contract as I know is in the USA.

“But now his break starts and I told him: ‘When you are here, of course you can come whenever you want, you can train with us if you think it is good for you.’”


Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Gerrard in Red Return Downunder


Former skipper Steven Gerrard will pull on the famous red Liverpool shirt when he joins the club’s all-star side against an Australian legends side at ANZ Stadium on 7 January.

Gerrard, who quit Anfield to move to Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy at the end of the 2014-15 season having made more than 500 appearances for the club, will captain a side that also includes Jamie Carragher, Luis Garcia, Dietmar Hamann, Ian Rush, Danny Murphy and John Aldridge.

Former manager Gerard Houllier will coach the team against a Socceroos outfit likely to contain the likes of Mark Bosnich, Brett Emerton, Scott Chipperfield, Tony Popovic, Jason Culina, Mile Sterjovski, Craig Foster, Robbie Slater and Ned Zelic.

NSW minister for sport Stuart Ayres said the match was a massive coup for soccer fans.

“The Australian team, named the Australian Legends, will be a who’s who of local champions, including Mark Bosnich, Brett Emerton, Tony Vidmar and many more. It will be a great occasion, and I encourage everyone to book their tickets as soon as possible,” Ayres said.

Houllier managed Liverpool between 1998 and 2004, and helped secure a Cup treble in 2000-01, winning the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup, while also finishing third in the Premier League.

“It will be a very proud moment to step back into the dugout to manage the Liverpool Legends team,” Houllier said. “I’m very much looking forward to working with some of the best players in the club’s history, some for the first time and some not.”

Gerrard added it would be great to play with the official Liverpool FC Legends. “The squad looks like its a great set of lads, it’ll be good to get on the pitch with them. Our fans are the best and to play in front of them again will be emotional, I’m sure.”

It will be Liverpool’s third trip to Australia since 2013, but this will be the first time their legends’ team is visiting.

Fellow European football giants Manchester United, Juventus, Roma and Real Madrid have also visited Australia in recent years, playing in front of sold-out crowds.