Steven Gerrard Retires from Football: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard officially announced his retirement from football on Thursday after an 18-year career at the peak of the sport, 17 of which were spent in the Premier League.

Rob Harris of the Associated Press confirmed Gerrard's plan to hang up his boots, and the Press Association provided a statement from the 36-year-old, who had special praise for his former employers:

BT Sport presenter Gary Lineker also sat down with Gerrard as part of an exclusive interview, where he explained his motivation to call time on his playing days:

The Anfield icon played the final match of his career in the Los Angeles Galaxy's Major League Soccer play-off defeat to the Colorado Rapids at the beginning of November, and his retirement quashes any rumours of a playing return to Merseyside.

Books have been written on Gerrard's years at Anfield, having first joined the club in 1987, but the Reds needed just one word to summarise their relationship and what his contributions meant:

The Liverpool Echo's James Pearce paid a heartfelt tribute to Gerrard following the announcement:

Gerrard leaves a legacy as one of the greatest players to have graced the Premier League, having made his Liverpool debut in 1998 before going on to make the third-highest number of appearances for the club (710) behind Jamie Carragher (737) and Ian Callaghan (857).

The former club captain won nine trophies during an Anfield career that spanned almost 20 years, comprising two FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and one FA Community Shield: 

The Premier League was the one domestic crown that eluded Gerrard throughout his 17 years in the Reds' first team, meaning a management path is now the only route by which he could lift the trophy.

It seems almost inevitable Gerrard will one day make his way back to Anfield, a location of near-immeasurable value to the club icon:

Following his departure from the Galaxy this month, it was reported Gerrard might have returned to Liverpool in a player-coach role, per the Sun's Jamie Gordon, although that's no longer on the cards.

His exploits carried over to the international forum, too, and England's official Twitter account was quick to celebrate one of Gerrard's finest moments for the Three Lions:

It was also mooted he could gain quick entry into first-team management with MK Dons, who recently sacked Karl Robinson, although Gerrard dashed that speculation. He told BT Sport (h/t BBC Sport): "It's a very exciting job for someone else."

Gerrard's days on Merseyside were filled with damning lows as well as ecstatic highs, and the 2006 FA Cup final penalty-shootout defeat of West Ham United was one of his brightest moments:

That memory lies in stark contrast to the stumble that saw Liverpool lose 2-0 to Chelsea in April 2014—commonly known as "the Slip"—a moment that many view to have cost the Reds that season's Premier League title:

"

…for better or worse.  https://t.co/X9ajlH9TDd

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) November 24, 2016"

In spite of that dark hour, Gerrard would be welcomed back to Anfield with open arms should he ever choose to return to the club, whether it be in a coaching capacity, in an ambassador role or simply as another member of the Kop.

Gerrard, who was also capped 114 times by England before announcing his international retirement in 2014, could provide experience many clubs might covet in their backrooms, but the former midfielder's next step remains unclear.