When Steven Gerrard made the move to Major League Soccer and the Galaxy, he said he was excited to begin the next chapter of his career.
Tuesday, that chapter reached its conclusion as the Galaxy announced Gerrard, 36, will not be returning for the 2017 season. Gerrard’s contract officially expires next month.
Gerrard joined the Galaxy after a stellar 17-year career with Liverpool of the English Premier League. His brief MLS career never seemed to get on track. He made his debut in July 2015, scoring two goals with three assists in 13 appearances.
His 2016 season was hampered by injuries. He made 21 appearances, starting 18 games. However, he made just two appearances after August.
According to salary information released by the MLS Players Union, Gerrard’s base salary this year was $6 million.
“It was a difficult one to swallow in terms of how it ended,” Gerrard said of his 2016 season in an interview with LAGalaxy.com. “I think this team can certainly learn where it went wrong and definitely go better next year and put up a stronger challenge.
“This has been a fantastic life experience for me. I was at Liverpool for a very, very long time and I was very comfortable there. I was almost like a piece of furniture because I had been that long. So to accept this challenge and come here for 17-18 months, it was a big decision for me, but I have no regrets.”
Gerrard continued to say he was going back to England to live, but this move doesn’t necessarily signal the end of his playing career.
He has been linked with a move to Celtic FC in the Scottish Premier League. That move would reunite him with his former Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers.
“I have a lot of things to consider, over the coming weeks and months,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll be back involved in the game somewhere down the line. I’ve got options, on the pitch and off the pitch, but I’ve got a bit of thinking to do in the next two-three weeks, I’m not ready to make a decision or finalize what I’ll be doing moving forward.”
Gerrard’s final appearance in a Galaxy uniform came in the second leg of the Western Conference semifinal. He entered the game as a second-half substitute. The game went to penalty kicks and Gerrard was the only Galaxy player to convert his.
“We brought in a player with an incredible name and history,” Galaxy coach and general manager Bruce Arena said of Gerrard. “Obviously, he dealt with some injuries in this year and a half, but his presence was great for the club. We were honored to have Stevie here.”
Gerrard’s news comes one day after former England national team midfield partner Frank Lampard announced he wouldn’t be returning to New York City FC.
In an excerpt of a letter Gerrard wrote to the Galaxy fans, he expressed his gratitude for their acceptance and his disappointment of not accomplishing a sixth MLS Cup in his brief time.
“When I left Liverpool, I came to Los Angeles with the goal of helping the LA Galaxy lift another MLS Cup,” Gerrard said in the letter. “I am very disappointed to have not achieved that objective … I have loved every minute of my time in the States and playing for the LA Galaxy.”
Gerrard’s move opens a Designated Player slot for the Galaxy. There is a decent chance that the club will have two coveted spots open, with Robbie Keane’s future undecided as of now.
