The cousin of Steven Gerrard, Anthony, once revealed that he has rejected the chance of playing for Liverpool several times – choices he came to Rue in the following years
Anthony Gerrard, cousin of Liverpool -hero Steven Gerrard, has admitted that he has rejected the Reds three times in decisions that he now regrets deeply. The 39-year-old initially progressed through the youth system of Everton in 2004.
Anthony confessed that he was walking the opportunities to trade Goodison Park in front of Anfield because he refused to be overshadowed by his legendary cousin, with whom he shared a good relationship. He is now burning a “Divvy” for rejecting the Merseyside rivals of the Toffees.
“I had three opportunities to sign for Liverpool,” Anthony unveiled to the football historian Podcast in April. “And because Steven Steven and I were like:” No, I want to walk my own path “and all that, which afterwards was an absolute Divvy movement.”
Anthony believes that his link to Gerrard could have helped his success in Anfield, while he acknowledges that his decision to stay with the neighbors of the Reds potentially denied him the greatest honor of club football.
He continued: “I am not saying on his coattails, but with what he was in the club and what he had achieved, he would come in handy at the football club.
“So when I signed my Pro deal with Everton, I had two offers from Liverpool and I had something like:” No, I don't want to do it. ” In retrospect I could have had them the first League performances and so on?
Anthony, a no-nonsense center-back, eventually left Everton after just one campaign to sign for Walsall. During five seasons in the West Midlands outfit, including one season on loan, he won the League Two title in 2006.
Moving to Cardiff City, Hull City and Huddersfield Town followed the example. Yet during his Cardiff, it was a spell that he stood on the field opposite his renowned cousin when Liverpool defeated the Bluebirds to claim the League Cup under Kenny Dalglish in 2012.
It was the scouse defender who stuck the crucial spot kick at Wembley to hand the Reds the silverware. Anthony then turned out to be Oldham Athletic and Shrewsbury Town.
Periods in Carlisle United and eventually Chesterfield brought off his match days when he hung up his boots in January 2020. Reflecting to his Everton trait in 2012, Anthony revealed the determination that held him up during a respectable football trip.
“If you have a dream, you just can't give up,” he told The Guardian. “Players fall out of football when they are released by larger clubs. I don't think it's their assets.
“I think it will be their mental state. I have a great support network around me my father, my grandfather. They pick me up and tell me that I am not a bad player only because of saying one manager.”
Gerrard also had a lot of praise for his cousin before he met Wembley in 2012. “I am five or six years older than him, but I knew he would be a good player from a young age,” he said.
“I used to have a kickabout with him from about four to 10 or 12, and he was really good. Everton picked him up very quickly, so I knew he had a really good chance.”