Published
4 years agoon
By
Joe Pee
Steven Gerrard and David Beckham have become the latest players to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
The former England captains are the seventh and eighth players to be handed the honour, joining Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard and Dennis Bergkamp.
Gerrard spent 17 years at Liverpool – including 12 as captain – during which time he scored 120 goals and provided a further 92 assists in 504 Premier League appearances.
Those figures place him 11th on the all-time list for appearances in the Premier League, 18th for goals and seventh for assists.
Gerrard won the Premier League Player of the Month award on six separate occasions but failed to get his hands on the title itself, finishing as a runner-up in 2014, 2009, and 2002.
Speaking following Gerrard’s induction, former England manager Glenn Hoddle paid tribute to him, saying: “You could play Steven in many, many positions and he’d be the best player on the team.
“He was a wonderful player – had everything. You wouldn’t want to play against him, you wouldn’t want to have to mark him.”
Gerrard is joined in the Hall of Fame by David Beckham, who won six Premier League titles during his time at Manchester United.
He made his Premier League debut in 1995 and went on to make 265 appearances, scoring 62 goals and registering 80 assists – the ninth-highest figure in the competition’s history.
Fellow Hall of Fame inductee Frank Lampard, who played with Beckham for England, said: “David Beckham, as a player, was top class.
“He was the top free-kick taker in the world during his career. From a Premier League stand, we never saw the like of him during his career.
“He was also a statesman, very well thought of in England and I think his legacy all round is very well respected throughout the game.”
Phil Neville, who lined up alongside Beckham with England and Manchester United, added: “That technique of hitting the ball from right to left, those diagonals, the free-kicks over the walls in big games – that wasn’t by accident. That was by hard work.
“He would be a £100m player now, simply because of the fact that his corners, his free-kicks, his crossing ability was a centre-forward’s dream.
“Becks was a dream because he used to do your work in defence and going forward. He was so good in both areas.”
Mahama Vows to Usher in Era of Fiscal Discipline and National Renewal
Elon Musk changes his name to Kekius Maximus on X
Mahama Calls for Unity Among Political Parties to Drive Ghana’s Renaissance
President-elect Mahama Rallies NDC Supporters: “Pray Harder for Ghana’s Transformation”
Ghana’s Economy on the Rise: President Akufo-Addo Highlights Robust Growth in 2024
EC Declares Final Verdict in Dome Kwabenya: Faustina Akurugu Elikplim Clinches Victory Amid Controversy
Thousands displaced as post-election unrest grips Mozambique
Former Black Stars Player Samuel Inkoom Faces Court Over Alleged Visa Fraud
Stonebwoy and Samini Mend Ties with Emotional Reunion at 3FM All White Party