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Topics: Zinedine Zidane, Steven Gerrard, Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Liverpool, Champions League
Luke Davies
Topics: Zinedine Zidane, Steven Gerrard, Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Liverpool, Champions League
Zinedine Zidane has made his feelings clear on Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was never a 'top, top player'.
Gerrard signed his first professional contract with Liverpool in 1998 and stayed at the club for 17 years.
He was captain when the Reds lifted the Champions League trophy in 2005 after beating AC Milan in an iconic final on penalties, but never won the Premier League.
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Gerrard also scored 21 goals in 114 England appearances and captained his country at three major tournaments from 2010 to 2014.
But despite the success he achieved throughout his career, legendary United boss Ferguson didn't believe Gerrard should be classed among the absolute elites of his generation.
In his 2013 autobiography, Ferguson insisted that Gerrard had never been a 'top, top player'.
Zidane only faced Gerrard once in his career - a Euro 2024 clash between England and France - but was left surprised at Ferguson's remarks.
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In 2013, the former Real Madrid manager - who was the club's sporting director at the time - was quoted by the Daily Mirror as stating: "For two or three years, Steven Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world.
"Gerrard has been loyal to Liverpool throughout his career - which is great for them. But if he had wanted to leave four or five years ago, then every top club in Europe would have [tried to sign him].
"Alex Ferguson is obviously one of the most successful coaches the game has ever had. But I did find his comments about Steven Gerrard very strange. To say he is not a top player is wrong."
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Ferguson's opinion on Gerrard clearly changed throughout the England midfielder's career, as he once claimed to The Sunday Times that the England star could replace Roy Keane in his midfield.
But the pair are on good terms now, with Gerrard revealing in May 2024 that he had personally sought advice from Ferguson following his sacking from Aston Villa in October 2022.
He told The Telegraph: "I went to see Alex Ferguson for a couple of hours and he said, 'Take your time, don't jump into anything. Take your time and process it, analyse it'. And that is what I have done."
Gerrard would wait another 10 months after his Villa sacking before taking another job, accepting the managerial role at Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq. Despite criticism from supporters last year, he remains in the role and has a contract until 2027.