After 19 years of professional football, Steven Gerrard announced his retirement from the game on Thursday.
Related: Gerrard announces retirement from football
The midfielder has attracted plenty of kind words from former teammates and opponents alike, serving as reminders of how much he achieved during a career which saw him don the captain's armband for Liverpool, England, and, latterly, in a vice-skipper role for the LA Galaxy.
Here's how social media reacted when Gerrard revealed he was stepping away from the sport:
Former teammates and opponents
The Legend Forever. pic.twitter.com/0spWLyP1JY
— Xabi Alonso (@XabiAlonso) November 24, 2016
It's been an honour to play with you / Ha sido un honor jugar a tu lado #YNWA pic.twitter.com/cAU3o365CR
— FERNANDO TORRES (@Torres) November 24, 2016
Good luck for the future. Will rightly be remembered as a great of the game. #StevenGerrard #LFC
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) November 24, 2016
Sad day for football when a legendary figure like Stevie Gerrard retires from the game. The good news is more nights like this! #legend pic.twitter.com/JBPnPl5lWf
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) November 24, 2016
We were rivals and we lived unforgettable finals. Steven Gerrard congratulations on your incredible career. pic.twitter.com/Ux0wK0ZBCE
— Kaka (@KAKA) November 24, 2016
I've always said I would have loved to play with this man Steven Gerrard. What a legend and what a career. #Respect #Leader pic.twitter.com/ZcKWLjpoE9
— Thierry Henry (@ThierryHenry) November 24, 2016
The best player I have ever played with! Thanks for everything mate🙏🏻Mr Captain Fantastic 😁👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/eycltUyZXi
— John Arne Riise (@JARiiseOfficial) November 24, 2016
Steven, brilliant player, World legend. Congratulations for what you did for football! #Gerrard 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/zsskrCEnwN
— Javier Zanetti (@javierzanetti) November 24, 2016
Hoy anuncia que se retira una leyenda del fútbol! Un líder dentro y fuera del campo, enorme Steven Gerrard! pic.twitter.com/CjX3dn2bLB
— Iker Casillas (@IkerCasillas) November 24, 2016
You will be missed my friend #YNWA pic.twitter.com/CZvp3izUFK
— Djibril Cisse (@DjibrilCisse) November 24, 2016
Y.N.W.A pic.twitter.com/9GRZOgLjkD
— Daniel Agger (@DanielAgger) November 24, 2016
Steven Gerrard 👏👏👏
— Grzegorz Krychowiak (@GrzegKrychowiak) November 24, 2016
Steven Gerrard Congratulations on an amazing career. A player I respect on and off the field. One of the best players I've played against 👊🏽 pic.twitter.com/Q5zFmMeVhs
— TIM CAHILL (@Tim_Cahill) November 24, 2016
His achievements
Legend. pic.twitter.com/UiKRpvQ6ny
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 24, 2016
Steven Gerrard retires
— England (@England) November 24, 2016
Caps: 1⃣1⃣4⃣
Caps as skipper: 3⃣8⃣
Goals: 2⃣1⃣
Major tournaments played in: 6⃣
👏https://t.co/scxJmBWzRR
Gerrard scored 120 @premierleague goals in his @LFC career - only Frank Lampard has scored more from midfield. #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/BsJ6ciMcvD
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) November 24, 2016
Steven Gerrard announces his retirement, 11 years after that night in Istanbul...#UCL pic.twitter.com/TV52jDa6D3
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 24, 2016
5️⃣0️⃣4️⃣ #PL matches
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 24, 2016
1️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ #PL goals
1️⃣ Steven Gerrard
The @LFC legend through the ages with @ToppsMerlin... pic.twitter.com/sxDyDtnsT1
Any excuse to show this Gerrard goal again. #LFC pic.twitter.com/JXYWvPPiEn
— Match of the Day Mag (@MOTDmag) November 24, 2016
Steven Gerrard was named in the PFA Team of the Year 8 times! PFA Merit Award winner 2015 and crowned PFA Players' #POTY in 2006 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/soWgFlX0Zf
— PFA (@PFA) November 24, 2016
Alternative takes
LA Galaxy legend Stevie Gee hangs up his cleats. He also did soccer In England. #YouNowWalkAway
— Soccer Guy (@usasoccerguy) November 24, 2016
I see plenty Chelsea fans bringing up Gerrard's slip. Captain cost #LFC silverware
— Conor McNamara (@ConorMcNamaraIE) November 24, 2016
Of course something like that would never happen to them pic.twitter.com/jH4z51c6ul
